Data Centre Cooling Design: How to Achieve Low PUE Without Air Conditioning
Why Data Centre Cooling Design Has Changed
Data centres are consuming more energy than ever, driven by increased demand for digital services, cloud storage, and data processing. As energy costs rise and environmental pressures increase, traditional air conditioning is no longer the most effective or sustainable solution.
Modern data centre cooling design prioritises efficiency, reliability, and long-term operational cost reduction. This means moving away from refrigeration-based systems and towards low-energy alternatives that can deliver consistent performance at scale.
Understanding PUE and Why It Matters
Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) is the key benchmark used to measure data centre efficiency. It compares the total energy used by the facility to the energy used by IT equipment alone.
Many conventionally cooled data centres operate with a PUE well above 3, largely due to the high energy demands of air conditioning. By contrast, efficient cooling design can significantly reduce this figure.
Celsius Design systems have achieved PUE levels as low as 1.2, demonstrating how effective cooling design can transform overall data centre performance.
Achieving Low PUE Without Air Conditioning
Celsius Design specialises in evaporative cooling systems as a low-carbon alternative to air conditioning. These systems cool air naturally using water evaporation rather than energy-intensive refrigerants.
Evaporative cooling is particularly well suited to UK climate conditions, where temperature and humidity levels allow consistent performance throughout most of the year. This makes it ideal for large-scale data centre cooling design.
By removing the reliance on traditional air conditioning, energy consumption is reduced dramatically while maintaining safe operating temperatures for IT equipment.
How Evaporative Cooling Supports Modern Data Centres
Evaporative cooling systems introduce large volumes of fresh, filtered air into the data centre, removing heat efficiently and evenly. The simplicity of the process means fewer mechanical components, lower failure risk, and significantly reduced running costs.
Celsius Design systems are modular, capable of supporting cooling loads from 10kW to over 2,000kW, making them suitable for both small server rooms and large colocation facilities.
This flexibility allows cooling design to scale alongside data centre growth without compromising efficiency.
Low Carbon Cooling in Practice
Traditional data centre cooling can account for nearly half of a facility’s total energy use. This creates a substantial carbon footprint and high operational costs.
By contrast, low carbon cooling using evaporative systems can reduce energy use dramatically. In many installations, each EcoCooling unit delivers savings of both energy and carbon emissions year after year.
Celsius Design has delivered some of the largest evaporative cooling installations in the UK, including high-capacity systems integrated with building management systems for precise control and monitoring.
Compliance, Control, and Reliability
Modern data centre cooling design must balance efficiency with reliability. Celsius systems are designed to meet ASHRAE temperature standards, ensuring safe operating conditions for IT equipment while maintaining low PUE levels.
High-efficiency filters, PLC control systems, and integration with existing building management systems provide accurate, reliable temperature control without unnecessary complexity.
This ensures cooling performance remains stable even as external conditions change.
Designing for the Future
As data centres continue to expand, cooling design must evolve. Low-energy, evaporative solutions offer a future-ready approach that aligns with sustainability goals, rising energy costs, and increasing performance expectations.
Celsius Design continues to lead in this space by delivering cooling systems that are efficient, scalable, and proven in real-world data centre environments.
Get in Touch
If you are reviewing your data centre cooling design or looking to reduce PUE without relying on air conditioning, Celsius Design can help. Contact our team to discuss low carbon, energy-efficient cooling solutions tailored to your facility.