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AI’s Energy Appetite: What Data Centers Mean for the Future of Electricity Prices

Discover how AI-driven data centers are reshaping electricity demand, prices, and why smarter HVAC and efficiency are critical for sustainable growth.

Ava Montini

Jan 27, 2026

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Powering intelligence, shaping energy


Artificial intelligence has gone from “what if” to “what now.” We use it to draft reports, analyze data, streamline workflows, and even generate design ideas. But while the results appear on our screens instantly, what powers them is anything but invisible.


Behind every AI tool is a data center; rows of servers drawing massive amounts of power and generating equally massive amounts of heat. And with AI adoption soaring, those facilities are putting real pressure on our electricity grids.


Bloomberg recently reported that in PJM, the largest U.S. grid, capacity prices jumped sharply as AI-driven data center demand climbed (Bloomberg). For operators, this is a direct hit to energy budgets.


So while AI is exciting, it comes with a new operational reality: efficiency in cooling, airflow, and HVAC isn’t optional. It’s the difference between runaway costs and sustainable growth.


Why AI is different from past computing booms


Previous waves of digital growth (like cloud adoption) drove steady data center expansion. But AI is different. Training large models consumes enormous amounts of energy. The International Energy Agency estimates that data center electricity use could nearly double by 2030 to around 1,000 TWh, roughly equal to Japan’s entire annual consumption (IEA).


And it’s not just training. Inference: the everyday process of users asking questions or running AI tasks is multiplying demand across millions of devices. Goldman Sachs forecasts a 165% increase in data center power demand by 2030, largely due to AI (Goldman Sachs).


Cooling: a hidden energy driver


When people think about data centers, they picture racks of servers. But behind that computing load is another energy giant: cooling.

HVAC, chillers, pumps, and fans often make up 30–40% of total energy use in data centers (U.S. DOE). That means the “support systems” keeping servers at safe temperatures can rival the IT equipment itself in energy demand.


And because these systems run 24/7, even small inefficiencies snowball:

  • A high-resistance filter forces fans to draw extra kilowatts all day, every day.

  • A dirty coil reduces heat transfer, stretching compressor runtimes.

  • A miscalibrated damper throws airflow off balance, raising both costs and emissions.


Clogged filters can cut supply airflow by over 35%, driving higher fan power and cooling loads (MDPI). Others highlight how loaded filters in constant-speed systems directly increase electricity use (University of Texas at Austin).


Now scale that across a hyperscale AI-driven facility. A 3% efficiency penalty may look small on paper, but in practice, it can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars annually and add unnecessary CO₂e to your footprint.


That’s why low-pressure, high-efficiency filtration matters. It cuts resistance without sacrificing capture, reducing fan energy hour after hour. For operators under pressure from rising power prices and sustainability goals, it’s one of the simplest ways to shrink cooling costs while protecting uptime.


Why efficiency pays off more now

Energy savings have always lowered costs. But as grids get stressed and data center demand rises, the value of each saved kilowatt is climbing. Bloomberg recently reported that capacity prices on PJM, the largest U.S. grid, have spiked because of new data center growth (Bloomberg).


In practical terms, this changes the math:

  • A coil cleaning that once took years to pay for itself can now pay back in just a few months.

  • Smarter controls and calibrated ventilation keep you protected when prices swing.

  • Low-pressure filtration quietly reduces fan energy every hour, stacking up bigger savings as electricity prices rise.


The bottom line is that efficiency has become one of the fastest and most reliable ways to control operating costs in an unpredictable energy market.


Building smarter, not just bigger

For operators, the roadmap isn’t a mystery. The tools are already here:

  • Low-pressure filtration to keep fans efficient hour after hour.

  • Adaptive cooling strategies like variable-speed fans, economizers, and containment to right-size energy use.

  • Monitoring-based commissioning and diagnostics to stop efficiency losses before they become routine.

  • Load shifting and grid-aware operations to tap cleaner, cheaper hours of power (IEA).


Every watt counts

As AI expands, data centers will continue to carry a heavier share of global electricity demand. That makes efficiency less of an option and more of an operating requirement.


The lesson is simple: efficiency and reliability are not competing goals. When facilities prioritize both, they not only manage rising energy costs but also reduce their carbon footprint in measurable, reportable ways. AI may be shaping the demand curve, but how operators respond will shape the industry's long-term sustainability.

Do Air Purifiers Remove Smells?

  • Writer: Jennifer Crowley
    Jennifer Crowley
  • Jul 31, 2023
  • 4 min read

Updated: Jul 9, 2024

Image of an African American man holding his nose with a grimace on his face - he doesn't like what he smells
Air purifiers with activated carbon are better at absorbing unwanted odours, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and organic compounds, creating that crisp, fresh air feel.

Indoor air pollution is a serious concern for commercial and industrial facilities and homeowners. One of the most common complaints about indoor air quality is the presence of unpleasant odours. Whether it’s caused by smoking, cooking, or pets, pungent odours can be a real problem in any indoor space. Many people turn to air purifiers to solve this problem, but do air purifiers reduce odours?


In this blog post, we will explore how air purifiers can help with bad smells and why certain air purifiers are better than others. Specifically, we will discuss how air purifiers with activated carbon are better at absorbing unwanted odours, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and organic compounds, creating that crisp, fresh air feel.


Whether you’re dealing with industrial chemicals, cigarette smoke, or cooking smells, we’ll help you understand how an air purifier might solve your odour problem. So, let’s dive in!


Common Causes of Indoor Odour

Indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air, even in large industrial cities. A big reason your indoor space might have a strange smell is the lack of ventilation. When an indoor room isn’t adequately ventilated, contaminants like allergens, VOCs and odours become trapped, and a lack of airflow increases indoor pollution levels and encourages mould and bacteria growth.


Mould and Mildew

Proper identification is crucial when dealing with household fungi due to the different treatment methods required. These fungi emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that produce a musty smell during various stages of growth. Although the spores of these fungi can be toxic, their odour can serve as a helpful indication that there is an issue in your home.


Using various ventilation methods and ensuring adequate airflow indoors is an excellent way of preventing mould and mildew. However, if you come across mould or a musty smell in your home, you must act swiftly after discovering them to avoid any potential health hazards.


Smoke

Instead of covering up foul odours with stronger fragrances, it’s essential to address the root cause of the smell as much as possible. This can include eliminating the source of the odour and regularly cleaning the affected area. An effective air purifier can also play a crucial role in eliminating lingering and unpleasant smells in your home once the source has been removed and cleaning has been done.


Pets

Pets, through the secretion of tiny proteins, oils, and other substances and shedding dander, can create an unpleasant odour in your home. Additionally, dander can pose a significant threat to individuals who suffer from allergies.


Chemical Contaminants

Chemical contaminants can be found in various sources, one of the most common being Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These organic chemicals containing carbon can evaporate into the air and cause odours. They are commonly found in office and home environments and can be emitted from a wide range of products found in these spaces.


HEPA Air Purifiers Remove Smells

HEPA filters are designed to capture large particles. However, they can only remove odours, chemicals, gases, or VOCs with additional technology. Therefore, they could be more efficient in eliminating odours.


HEPA Air Purifiers with Activated Carbon

With activated carbon filters, air purifiers can effectively absorb unwanted odours, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other organic compounds, leaving your space smelling fresh and clean. Activated carbon filters work by adsorbing VOCs onto their surface, where they are trapped and neutralized. When used together, HEPA air purifiers and activated carbon filters can effectively remove odours from the air.


Blade HEPA Air Purifier

The Blade HEPA Air Purifier has a comprehensive multi-stage filtration process to ensure a completely clean air environment in any deployed indoor setting. The four stages of air filtration are:

Illustration of the Blade Air HEPA Air Purifier's interior with an outline of each part including the main fan, pre-filter, airflow, HEP Filter, Carbon filter and outflow
Meet the Blade Air HEPA Air Purifier

Stage 1

Large to medium particle pre-filter to initially remove dust, dirt, and debris.

Stage 2

Pulling pre-filtered air through a high-efficiency variable speed fan.

Stage 3

Industry-leading cubic HEPA removes 99.97% of all particles at 0.3 microns in size.

Stage 4

Pleated activated carbon filter for the absorption of odours, gasses and chemicals.


Why is the Blade HEPA Air Purifier the best choice?

The Premium air purifier is a perfect solution to enhance the air quality in any space, regardless of size. Equipped with one cubic foot of HEPA filter that has been certified and independently lab-tested, it can effectively remove 99.97% of airborne particles that are 0.3 microns and smaller. Additionally, it has an active carbon filter that captures odours, VOCs, and organic compounds, perfect for odour control.


Learn more about the Blade HEPA Air Purifier.


Additional tips to remove odour

The most immediate thing you can do to improve indoor odour and air quality is to open windows and doors so that fresh air can circulate. Once you shut them, make sure to run a high-quality air purifier to clean whatever contaminants remain in the air. In addition to an air purifier, ensure your HVAC filters and air ducts are clean and continuously running to control indoor humidity levels and prevent a build-up of contaminants.

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