Why PUE must become the new standard for digital infrastructure

In a world increasingly powered by data, the pressure on our energy infrastructure is growing rapidly. Behind every email, AI model, or video conference lies an invisible engine: the data center. But how efficiently that engine runs varies greatly — and this is where PUE comes into play.

What is PUE?

PUE stands for Power Usage Effectiveness and is the standard metric for measuring a data center’s energy efficiency.
The formula is simple:

PUE = Total facility energy consumption ÷ Energy consumption of IT equipment

A perfect PUE would be 1.0, meaning all consumed energy directly powers servers and IT hardware. In practice, older data centers often have a PUE around 1.7, whereas modern, optimized facilities can reach PUE values as low as 1.1 or even lower.

Why does PUE matter?

• Reduced energy waste: A lower PUE means less energy is lost to cooling, lighting, and other non-IT operations.

• Smaller carbon footprint: Less electricity use translates into lower CO₂ emissions.

• Cost savings: Efficient facilities are cheaper to operate, leading to savings for both providers and clients.

• Grid relief: With energy grids facing increasing congestion, efficient energy use is crucial.

Our perspective

At Datacenter Broker, we see PUE not as a marketing buzzword but as a critical KPI for a sustainable future.
We actively select data centers that take energy efficiency seriously and advise our clients to prioritize it too.
In tomorrow’s digital economy, PUE won't be optional — it will be essential.