WP#6 - The Green Grid Data Center Power Efficiency Metrics: PUE and DCiE
The Green Grid
The foundational Green Grid paper that formalised Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and its reciprocal, Data Center infrastructure Efficiency (DCiE).
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Overview
WP#6 is the founding document in which The Green Grid formally defined Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and its reciprocal, Data Center infrastructure Efficiency (DCiE). The library record dates it 30 December 2008. The paper defines the PUE and DCiE pair as the measure of data-centre power efficiency.
According to the abstract, the paper argues that a small set of metrics helps operators understand and improve existing facilities, and also helps them make better choices for new builds. The metrics are therefore positioned both for monitoring a facility in operation and for new deployment decisions. The library lists the keyword metrics, and the follow-on detailed analysis was published as WP#14 (December 2008).
The paper is a landmark for the industry: later Green Grid papers (WP#22, WP#49) and ISO/IEC 30134-2 build on these definitions. The lineage of today's PUE definition therefore runs back to WP#6, while the current standard is ISO/IEC 30134-2. Another related document is EN 50600-4-2.
Key points
- Dated 30 December 2008 in the TGG library.
- Defines the PUE and DCiE metric pair for data-centre power efficiency.
- Positions the metrics for improving existing facilities and for decisions on new deployments.
- DCiE is the reciprocal of PUE.
- Follow-on detailed analysis published as WP#14 (December 2008).
- WP#22, WP#49 and ISO/IEC 30134-2 build on these definitions.
- Related standards: ISO/IEC 30134-2, EN 50600-4-2.
Using it in design
- In the metrics panel, compute PUE = total facility energy / IT energy and optionally show DCiE = 100/PUE for legacy reports.
- Label the metric source in calculator tooltips: TGG WP#6 lineage, ISO/IEC 30134-2 current.
- Record the PUE as a target at design stage and measure it with the same definition in operation.
- State the measurement point and period of the PUE explicitly in reports.
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Who should read it
Design engineers, operators and sustainability teams who calculate or report PUE.
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 30134-2
- EN 50600-4-2
Publication details
- Authors
- The Green Grid
- Publisher
- The Green Grid
- Year
- 2008
- Document number
- WP 6
- Document language
- English
- Source type
- Industry body
- Access
- Citation only
- Licence
- Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document
Original licence note
Download requires a free TGG account sign-in and is governed by The Green Grid Terms of Use; summary and facts from the public library landing page; full text not redistributed.
Citation
The Green Grid (2008). WP#6 - The Green Grid Data Center Power Efficiency Metrics: PUE and DCiE. The Green Grid. WP 6. https://www.thegreengrid.org/resources/library-and-tools/green-grid-data-center-power-efficiency-metrics-pue-and-dcie
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