power usage effectiveness (PUE)
Home > Data Center Definitions - Power usage effectiveness (PUE)
SearchDataCenter.com Definitions (Powered by WhatIs.com)
EMAIL THIS
LOOK UP TECH TERMS Powered by: WhatIs.com
Search listings for thousands of IT terms:
Browse tech terms alphabetically:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

power usage effectiveness (PUE)


Show me everything on Data center backup power and power distribution


Word of the Day


DEFINITION - Power usage effectiveness (PUE) is a metric used to determine the energy efficiency of a data center. PUE is determined by dividing the amount of power entering a data center by the power used to run the computer infrastructure within it. PUE is therefore expressed as a ratio, with overall efficiency improving as the quotient decreases toward 1. PUE was created by members of the Green Grid, an industry group focused on data center energy efficiency. Data center infrastructure efficiency (DCIE) is the reciprocal of PUE and is expressed as a percentage that improves as it approaches 100%.



How to Determine PUE

1. Take a measurement of energy use at or near the facility's utility meter. If the data center is in a mixed-use facility or office building, take a measurement only at the meter that is powering the data center. If it is not on a separate utility meter, estimate the amount of power being consumed by the non-data center portion of the building and remove it from the equation.

2. Measure the IT equipment load after power conversion, switching, and conditioning is completed. According to The Green Grid, the most useful measurement point is at the output of the computer room power distribution units (PDUs). This measurement should represent the total power delivered to the server racks in the data center.

According to the Uptime Institute, the typical data center has an average PUE of 2.5. This means that for every 2.5 watts in at the utility meter, only one watt is delivered out to the IT load. Uptime estimates most facilities could achieve 1.6 PUE using the most efficient equipment and best practices.

Learn more about Data center backup power and power distribution
The Price of Power: Traditionally, the price of power fell was a problem for facilities management. But as both the price and demand for power skyrocket, it's a problem IT can no longer ignore.
PG&E invests in data center energy efficiency: Northern California utility PG&E has made headlines by offering rebates for energy efficiency in the data center. The company's programs have become a model for other utilities.
Weighing centralized versus modular UPS in the data center: What is the technology difference between modular and traditional centralized uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)? Can we have a mix of both at different zones in the data center?
Right-sizing is the key to energy-efficient data centers: Energy efficiency - the monkey on every data center manager's back. We spoke to APC's Chief Technical Officer, Neil Rasmussen about energy efficiency strategies in the data center.
EPA eyes Energy Star label for servers: The EPA may include servers in its Energy Star program and will study data center energy consumption in the coming months.
Data Center Library: Enterprise Data Center Design and Methodology: A review of Enterprise Data Center Design and Methodology by Sun Microsystems Inc.'s Enterprise Architect Rob Snevely.
Bob McFarlane: Blogs and more: Expert Bob McFarlane recently hosted a blog that tackled the full array of problems that face anyone managing a data center's physical environment. The best of the blog is here.
The Price of Power: Traditionally, the price of power fell was a problem for facilities management. But as both the price and demand for power skyrocket, it's a problem IT can no longer ignore.
Power: Check out all the best power related content SearchDataCenter has in one easy location--don't get zapped for being out of the circuit.
Power Playbook: This Playbook directs you to the best sources on protecting yourself against outages, testing your UPS, to a guide to fault tolerant power compliance specs.

CONTRIBUTORS: Mark Fontecchio
LAST UPDATED: 11 Jan 2010

Do you have something to add to this definition? Let us know.
Send your comments to techterms@whatis.com

More resources from around the web:
- The Green Grid offers a downloadable white paper that explains PUE and DCIE further. (PDF)





FILE EXTENSION AND FILE FORMAT LIST
File Extension and File Format List:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #


RELATED CONTENT
Data center 2009 Products of the Year award winners
SearchDataCenter.com's 2009 Products of the Year have been announced in the categories of enterprise systems management, server hardware and data...
Data center flywheel gets thumbs-up from colo provider
To save data center space, Terremark Worldwide, a large data center hoster, uses flywheel- rather than battery-based uninterruptible power supply for...
Data center efficiency: Which tactics are worth the cost?
Which data center energy-efficiency tactics are worth the effort? Which measures do not return on investment? This tip illustrates how much you can...

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS
Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary
Electric plugs for each country  (SearchDataCenter.com)
green data center  (SearchDataCenter.com)
A green data center is a repository for the storage, management, and dissemination of data in which the mechanical, lighting, electrical and computer...




Data Center Decisions: Lights-Out or Managed Data Center?
Find power usage effectiveness (PUE) Solutions for your Data Center
HomeNewsTopicsITKnowledge ExchangeTipsBlogsMultimediaWhite PapersEvents
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
SEARCH 
TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2005 - 2010, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts