Energy Efficiency for Data Centers

Course Description

In this technical presentation, Anthony Milando and Arya Singh of TRC Companies provide an overview of the rapidly growing importance of data centers, particularly driven by increasing demand for digital services and the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. The presentation shows how data centers function as critical infrastructure supporting everyday technologies, highlights their key components (power, cooling, networking, and security), and emphasizes that nearly all consumed energy is converted into heat, making cooling systems a major efficiency opportunity. Different types of data centers are outlined, detailing their unique operational characteristics (including constant, high electrical loads and stringent reliability requirements) and evolving performance metrics such as PUE and newer standards like ASHRAE 90.4. Accelerating AI adoption will significantly increase data center energy demand and infrastructure needs, positioning data centers as a central consideration for utilities, engineers, and policymakers.

Recorded at the March 19, 2026 Energy Efficiency Stakeholder meeting.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the significance of artificial intelligence (AI) workloads on power density compared to traditional workloads, resulting in increased electricity consumption and cooling requirements.
• Describe the unique load characteristics of data centers, including continuous, flat, high electrical demand and challenges for grid planning, forecasting, and infrastructure investment.
• Explain the need for continued cooling innovation, like hot aisle containment, liquid cooling, and heat recovery, and emerging sustainability opportunities such as waste heat reuse.
• Detail how data centers function as critical infrastructure supporting supporting everyday technologies and list their key components.

About the Instructor:

Anthony Milando is a Project Engineer II at TRC Companies, Inc.
Arya Singh is an Energy Efficiency Project Engineer at TRC Companies, Inc.

Course Outline

• The Rising Prominence of Data Centers
  • What is a Data Center?
  • Why Data Centers Matter Now
  • Where Data Centers are Concentrating
  • Connecting AI Growth to Physical Infrastructure

• How Data Centers Operate
  • Types of Data Centers
  • Energy Flow through a Data Center
  • Energy Use in Data Centers

• What Makes Data Centers Unique
  • Electric Load Characteristics
  • Availability, Protection & Redundancy
  • Cooling Systems
  • Evaluating Energy Performance

• Growth Outlook & Stakeholder Takeaways
  • What to Expect
  • Key Takeaways

• Exam