Information technology - Data centres key performance indicators - Part 2: Power usage effectiveness (PUE)

Overview

ISO/IEC 30134-2 defines PUE (power usage effectiveness), the key performance indicator that quantifies efficient use of energy in a data centre. The second edition, published on 16 January 2026 (35 pages), supersedes the 2016 first edition. It was prepared by ISO/IEC JTC 1 and belongs to the ISO/IEC 30134 series.

The new edition introduces PUE measurement categories tied to where and how often energy is metered. The standard explains how PUE relates to infrastructure, IT equipment and IT operations, specifies measurement, calculation and reporting, and gives guidance on interpreting results correctly. A dedicated clause (Clause 9) describes PUE derivatives, for example partial and designed PUE variants.

This record was built only from the publisher's public catalogue abstract and product metadata; the full text was not read. The standard itself must be purchased for the detail of category definitions and derivative formulas. Related documents include ISO/IEC 30134-1, EN 50600-4-2 and The Green Grid WP49.

Key points

1. PUE is defined as a KPI quantifying efficient use of energy in a data centre.
2. Edition 2 was published 2026-01-16 (35 pages), superseding the 2016 first edition.
3. PUE measurement categories are introduced.
4. The standard specifies measurement, calculation and reporting of PUE.
5. It includes guidance on correct interpretation of results.
6. PUE derivatives are described in Clause 9.
7. It explains PUE's relation to infrastructure, IT equipment and IT operations.
8. Related documents: ISO/IEC 30134-1, EN 50600-4-2, The Green Grid WP49.

Using it in design

• Build the PUE calculator to the 2026 edition: annual energy basis and a metering category tag on every result.
• Because the category drives which meter points are mandatory, catalogue meters with location (utility input, UPS output, PDU output, IT input) so the tool can infer the achievable category.
• Label Clause 9 derivatives (partial or design PUE) as such and never report them as plain PUE.

Who should read it

Engineers designing PUE metering and reporting, energy managers, and decision makers drafting efficiency commitments.

Related standards

• ISO/IEC 30134-1
• EN 50600-4-2
• The Green Grid WP49

Publication details

Authors

ISO/IEC JTC 1

Publisher

ISO/IEC

Year

2026

Document number

ISO/IEC 30134-2:2026

Document language

English

Source type

Standard

Access

Citation only

Licence

Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document

Citation