UK data center improves energy efficiency by 8%

The data center had already implemented a series of upgrades and operated a finely tuned chilled-water plant, yet the team still faced an ambitious target: reducing PUE from 1.42 toward 1.1. Achieving this level of efficiency required uncovering marginal gains that were not visible through existing monitoring tools.

Although plant performance was strong, subtle inefficiencies remained difficult to detect. The team needed more detailed insight into system performance and operating conditions to identify opportunities for improvement on top of their established baseline. As a high security environment, the data center also required an on-premise, air-gapped optimization approach that met strict requirements while supporting ongoing reliability.

The data center refined chilled-water plant performance using simulation and real-time data modeling. This helped the team better understand operating conditions and make targeted adjustments.

OpenBlue Central Utility Plant Optimization provided predictive insights and more consistent control across sub-plants and connected assets. To support the customer’s high security and air-gapped environment, a highly skilled Johnson Controls technician completed the on-site update and configuration. The chilled-water system includes YORK chillers as part of its plant design.

Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) remains a key metric for data centers, directly influencing energy use, operating costs, and overall system reliability. With enhanced operational visibility and targeted adjustments, the facility increased chilled plant energy efficiency by 8% and advanced its PUE to 1.296.

Other key impacts include:

• £38,084 in annual energy cost savings
• 355,000 kWh reduction in energy use, comparable to planting 2,300 trees
• Operational stability maintained for mission-critical services

The customer is a multinational bank that provides financial services to millions of customers worldwide. Its technology operations are supported by high-availability data centers that underpin day-to-day banking, digital platforms, and global transactions.