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

Written by

Published on

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.

HEPA vs True HEPA: What’s the Difference?

Jennifer Crowley
Jul 28, 2023
2 min read

Updated: Jul 9, 2024

Extreme close up image of an HVAC filter — True HEPA filters are highly effective at removing even the smallest particles that can cause health problems, such as allergens, mould spores, and some types of bacteria and viruses.

If you’re looking for an air filter that can effectively remove a wide range of airborne pollutants from your home or office, you’ve likely come across the term “True HEPA.” But what exactly does that mean? In this blog, we’ll dive into the world of air filtration and explain what sets True HEPA filters apart from other types of HEPA filters. We’ll also explore the many benefits of using a True HEPA filter in your home or office, from improved air quality to reduced allergy symptoms and more.

HEPA vs True HEPA

HEPA stands for “High-Efficiency Particulate Air,” These filters are designed to remove a wide range of airborne particles, including dust, pollen, pet dander, viruses, and bacteria. They are commonly used in hospitals, laboratories, and other settings where air quality is critical.

However, not all HEPA filters are created equal. To be classified as True HEPA, a filter must meet certain standards set by the United States Department of Energy (DOE). These standards require the filter to remove at least 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns or larger in size.

True HEPA filters are the gold standard when it comes to air filtration, and they can make a significant difference in the air quality of your home or office.

What Makes HEPA “True HEPA”?

Chart comparing qualities of Classic HEPA to True HEPA — To be classified as True HEPA, it must remove at least 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns or larger.

While all HEPA filters are designed to remove airborne particles, not all filters labelled “HEPA” meet the same standards.

A filter must meet specific standards set by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to be classified as True HEPA. If the HEPA filter does not meet the DOE’s standards for HEPA filtration, then it's not a True HEPA.

These standards require the filter to remove at least 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns or larger in size. This means that True HEPA filters are highly effective at removing even the smallest particles that can cause health problems, such as allergens, mould spores, and some types of bacteria and viruses.

Benefits of True HEPA

The benefits of using a HEPA vs a True HEPA filter in your home or office are numerous. Here are some of the key benefits:

Improved air quality: True HEPA filters are highly effective at removing a wide range of airborne pollutants, which can help to improve the overall air quality in your home or office.
Reduced allergy symptoms: True HEPA filters can help to reduce allergy symptoms by removing allergens such as dust, pollen, and pet dander from the air.
Improved respiratory health: By removing pollutants from the air, True HEPA filters can help to improve respiratory health, particularly for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
Protection against viruses and bacteria: True HEPA filters effectively remove some viruses and bacteria from the air, which can help reduce the risk of infection.
Odour reduction: True HEPA filters can help to reduce odours in your home or office by removing particles that can cause unpleasant smells.

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