Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsAI data centres can use less energy and water by improving server and electrical efficiency, tuning airflow and temperature, using suitable economizers or liquid cooling, managing cooling towers, and reusing heat where there is a practical customer for it. No single cooling technology guarantees lower total impacts: the right choice depends on the facility’s climate, rack density, water conditions, existing equipment and electricity supply. Measure energy and water separately before deciding what to change.
Why AI data centre efficiency matters
AI increases demand for computing, but cooling is only part of a data centre’s energy use. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported in 2025 that servers account for around 60% of modern data-centre electricity use on average. Cooling’s share varies substantially: it can be about 7% in efficient hyperscale facilities and more than 30% in less-efficient enterprise facilities. Those figures are not a prediction for every AI site; they illustrate why operators need to measure their own systems rather than assume cooling is always the biggest opportunity.
The IEA estimated that data centres used about 415 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2024, roughly 1.5% of global electricity use. Its 2025 Base Case projects around 945 TWh in 2030. That is a scenario projection, not a certain outcome. Efficiency measures can reduce the energy required for a given workload, while clean electricity can reduce the emissions associated with the energy that remains. These are related but distinct goals, and neither automatically solves local water impacts.
Start with a baseline, not a cooling purchase
Before selecting a retrofit or a new cooling system, establish how much energy the IT equipment uses, how much energy the whole facility uses, how much water the site uses, and under what operating conditions. Include cooling and electrical infrastructure in the facility picture, and record relevant conditions such as season, temperature settings, airflow arrangements and workload. A baseline gives operators a way to tell whether a change improved the intended outcome or merely shifted demand elsewhere.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →#1 Best Overall
- HD streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Compact without compromises: The sleek design of Roku Streaming Stick won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
Track PUE and WUE for different questions
Power usage effectiveness (PUE) is total facility energy divided by IT-equipment energy. Water usage effectiveness (WUE), as described by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is annual site water use in litres divided by annual IT-equipment energy in kilowatt-hours. PUE helps show how much facility energy is used in addition to IT energy; WUE relates site water use to the IT energy delivered over the year.
Use both measures, but do not treat either as a complete sustainability score. A change can improve PUE without reducing site water use, or reduce water while increasing energy demand. These ratios also do not, on their own, describe the source of electricity, local water stress or every indirect impact. Pair them with the underlying energy and water totals and the local conditions that make those totals meaningful.
Improve IT, electrical and facility efficiency together
DOE’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) puts internal system efficiency first and identifies IT equipment, electrical systems, and air- and liquid-cooling as parts of data-centre design. Because servers use a large share of electricity, reducing cooling demand alone cannot address the full load. Equipment efficiency and utilization matter alongside the efficiency of power conversion and heat removal.
For an operator, that means examining the IT load and the supporting facility as one system. A more efficient cooling plant is useful, but it does not erase avoidable server or electrical-system energy use. Conversely, improving IT efficiency can change the amount and pattern of heat the cooling system must handle. Record changes against the same baseline and workload context so that an apparent facility improvement is not mistaken for a reduction in the energy needed to deliver computing.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallTune temperature, humidity and airflow
Some data centres are operated at temperatures below recommended setpoints and with humidity controls kept within unnecessarily narrow ranges. DOE notes that these choices can increase chiller demand and cooling-tower water use. Where equipment conditions permit, operators can review temperature setpoints and broaden humidity operating ranges in line with applicable equipment requirements and the relevant ASHRAE recommendations. This can reduce mechanical cooling demand and increase the hours when outdoor-air cooling is viable.
Rank #2
- Ultra-speedy streaming: Roku Ultra is 30% faster than any other Roku player, delivering a lightning-fast interface and apps that launch in a snap.
- Cinematic streaming: This TV streaming device brings the movie theater to your living room with spectacular 4K, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision picture alongside immersive Dolby Atmos audio.
- The ultimate Roku remote: The rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro offers backlit buttons, hands-free voice controls, and a lost remote finder.
- No more fumbling in the dark: See what you’re pressing with backlit buttons.
- Say goodbye to batteries: Keep your remote powered for months on a single charge.
Do not apply a single temperature or humidity target to every room. Appropriate operating conditions depend on data-centre classification, altitude and other factors. A change should be checked against the equipment’s permitted conditions and the facility’s monitoring and controls; the DOE guidance does not establish one universal setpoint for all sites.
Keep supply air and hot exhaust apart
Arrange racks and airflow so cool supply air reaches equipment without mixing unnecessarily with hot exhaust. Hot- and cold-zone management can help facilities use higher chilled-water temperatures and lower airflow. DOE cites 20% less chiller energy for the practices it describes. Treat that figure as a source-specific potential, not a guaranteed result for an individual installation: layout, operating conditions and the existing system affect what a site can achieve.
When reviewing airflow, identify where cool air is bypassing equipment or hot exhaust is returning to the supply path. Correcting those mismatches can help the cooling system deliver air where it is needed rather than compensating with colder water or more airflow. Recheck temperature and humidity conditions after adjustments, and compare the resulting energy use with the baseline.
Recommended Free Tools
Use economizers when local conditions allow
Economizers use favourable outdoor conditions to reduce reliance on mechanical cooling. Whether they make sense depends on the climate, the number of suitable operating hours, temperature and humidity settings, equipment protections and system configuration. They can reduce cooling energy and water, but savings are not constant across sites or seasons.
Air-side economizers
An air-side economizer uses cool outdoor air in place of some or all mechanical cooling. It can reduce chiller demand and water use when ambient conditions are suitable. Air quality and humidity still need to be managed to protect IT equipment, and the facility needs controls that allow operation only when outdoor conditions meet its requirements. The practical benefit depends on how often those conditions occur, not simply on whether the site has an economizer installed.
Rank #3
- 4K streaming made simple:With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- 4K picture quality: With Roku Streaming Stick Plus, watch your favorites with brilliant 4K picture and vivid HDR color.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
Water-side economizers
A water-side economizer uses a heat exchanger to cool the chilled-water loop, reducing or bypassing chiller operation when outdoor conditions permit. DOE describes potential energy and water savings, but the system arrangement determines how effectively the loop can use those conditions. Compare the operating hours and system interactions with the baseline rather than assuming that an installed heat exchanger will deliver the same result in every facility.
Assess liquid cooling as a whole-system choice
Direct liquid cooling transfers heat from IT equipment to a recirculating liquid loop, instead of relying only on room air to carry the heat away. It is relevant where rack densities make air-based heat removal difficult, but “liquid cooling” does not mean “zero water use.” The water and energy outcome depends on the full heat-rejection arrangement, its operation and the facility around it.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →An IEA 4E Energy Efficient End-use Equipment summary published on 22 June 2026 reports potential savings of about 8% in servers and 30–40% at facility level from liquid cooling, translating to 10–21% overall. These are reported potentials, not guaranteed savings for a specific data centre. The same summary flags high upfront costs, low adoption, gaps in standardization and long-term reliability concerns. A prospective installation should therefore be evaluated as an IT-and-facility system, including its heat rejection and ongoing operation, rather than judged by the cooling loop alone.
Before choosing it, assess compatibility with the rack density and existing systems, the facility changes required, reliability and maintenance needs, and how the heat will ultimately be rejected. Compare expected IT, cooling and whole-facility energy effects, as well as direct site water use. The available evidence does not establish one universally best cooling technology or a fixed savings outcome for all AI data centres.
Reduce cooling-tower water use carefully
Cooling towers use water through evaporation and blowdown. Blowdown removes concentrated water from the system; makeup water replaces losses. Increasing cycles of concentration can reduce both the amount of water discharged and the makeup water required, but the feasible operating point depends on water quality, treatment and system operation.
Rank #4
- Stunning 4K and Dolby Vision streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Breathtaking picture quality: Stunningly sharp 4K picture brings out rich detail in your entertainment with four times the resolution of HD. Watch as colors pop off your screen and enjoy lifelike clarity with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
- Seamless streaming for any room: With Roku Streaming Stick 4K, watch your favorite entertainment on any TV in the house, even in rooms farther from your router thanks to the long-range Wi-Fi receiver.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, so you can switch from streaming to gaming with ease. Plus, it’s designed to stay hidden behind your TV, keeping wires neatly out of sight
DOE FEMP guidance, citing a Cooling Tower Best Management Practice, associates a change from three to six cycles of concentration with 20% lower makeup-water requirements and 50% lower blowdown. These figures describe that specified change, not a universal reduction for every tower. Operators need to establish whether their water quality and treatment approach can support the higher concentration before changing operation.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Reverse osmosis can reclaim some cooling-tower blowdown water. It also adds energy demand and operations and maintenance requirements, and DOE notes it can worsen PUE. Consider the recovered water and the additional energy together; a water-reuse measure should not be described as an unqualified efficiency improvement if it increases facility energy use.
Reuse heat and choose how to reject what remains
Data centres generate heat that may be useful elsewhere. DOE FEMP’s design priorities include reusing as much waste heat as practical, then rejecting the remaining heat through dry coolers when possible to save water. Heat reuse is most viable when there is a nearby, suitable use for the recovered heat and the necessary infrastructure to deliver it. Without those conditions, a theoretical heat-reuse opportunity does not establish a real site benefit.
Dry heat rejection can reduce water use where the facility and local conditions make it practical. It should be assessed alongside energy performance and operational requirements; the choice of heat-rejection system can change the balance between energy and water rather than eliminate both burdens. A site-specific assessment should consider whether recovered heat has a reliable user, what connection and operating arrangements are needed, and how remaining heat will be handled.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Pair efficiency with cleaner electricity and grid planning
Efficiency reduces the amount of electricity a facility needs. Electricity sourcing changes the emissions profile of the power it consumes. These strategies complement each other, but cleaner electricity does not by itself reduce a data centre’s on-site water use.
Best Value
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
DOE’s Office of Electricity identifies solar, wind, batteries, grid expansion, efficiency, demand resources, planning and other firm power sources as elements of a reliable response to data-centre electricity demand. In its 2025 analysis, the IEA projects that renewables will meet nearly half of additional data-centre electricity demand over the next five years. That projection concerns electricity supply; it is not a forecast of water savings at individual facilities.
Operators should plan for both the facility’s demand and the supply available to serve it. Assess energy efficiency alongside grid reliability and electricity carbon intensity, and keep those findings distinct from the site’s direct water account. A renewable electricity claim alone cannot show whether a facility uses less water locally.
How to choose and verify measures
There is no universal ranking of the options. Compare each candidate against the same facility baseline, and separate its effects on IT energy, cooling energy, whole-facility energy and direct site water. Include local constraints and operational consequences in the decision, not just a technology’s headline potential.
- Document current conditions. Record IT and facility energy, site water use, cooling-system demand, operating settings and relevant seasonal conditions. Calculate PUE and WUE, while retaining the separate totals behind each ratio.
- Identify the dominant opportunity. Establish whether avoidable demand lies in IT equipment, electrical systems, airflow, mechanical cooling, cooling-tower operation or another part of the facility. The IEA’s broad energy shares are context, not a substitute for site measurements.
- Check local fit. Assess climate and suitable economizer hours, rack density, equipment operating conditions, water quality, water availability, system compatibility and retrofit difficulty.
- Compare trade-offs. Consider upfront cost, reliability, maintenance, whole-facility energy, water source and consumption, potential heat users, electricity carbon intensity and grid reliability. A water-saving measure may add energy; a cooling-energy measure may leave water use unchanged.
- Verify after implementation. Compare energy and water results against the baseline under a comparable workload and operating context. Report which metric changed and which did not, rather than presenting a single ratio as proof of overall improvement.
Planning efficiencies during construction or renovation can make it easier to integrate them than attempting to retrofit a finished facility. In a 2024 FEMP article, Energy Program Manager Kendall Kam said that planning for energy- and water-use efficiencies while building or renovating can help make the most of that investment. That principle does not remove the need to validate a proposed measure against the site’s actual conditions.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
