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.

Ontario School Board Purchases Air Sniper Purification System to Protect Students & Staff

Jennifer Crowley
Jul 27, 2023
2 min read

Updated: Jul 15, 2024

Blade Air's induct air UV air purification technology — Blade Air's solution is proven to be highly effective in destroying airborne pathogens such as COVID-19, influenza, staph, and mould with an impressive 99.9% efficiency.

Blade Air, a leading provider of industrial air quality solutions, has been selected by the Peel District School Board and Superior North Catholic District School Board to implement a comprehensive air sanitization solution. This initiative aims to protect against airborne transmission of COVID-19 and other pathogens, ensuring a safe learning environment for everyone.

Blade Air will be installing Air Sniper’s advanced UV-C technology into central air systems and unit ventilators across schools, gearing up for the upcoming fall semester. UV-C air sanitization is a recognized and approved technology by ASHRAE and the CDC for COVID-19 risk mitigation. By leveraging this cutting-edge solution, Blade Air is at the forefront of ensuring the safety and well-being of students and faculty.

This timely initiative aligns with the funding provided by the Ontario and Federal governments in April 2021. The governments allocated funds to improve ventilation systems and social distancing measures in public buildings, with a particular focus on schools. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Ontario school board turned to Blade Air to supply them with top-of-the-line air purification technologies. Blade Air is a trusted partner of the Ontario Education Collaborative Marketplace and Ontario Together, working closely with various school boards, including Peel District, Ottawa Carleton, Hamilton-Wentworth, Waterloo Region, Dufferin-Peel Catholic, and Grand Erie District School Boards.

Blade Air, a division of Blade Filters, has quickly gained recognition for its Canadian-made air quality solutions. With a team of young entrepreneurs at the helm, Blade Air is revolutionizing the industry by creating safe and clean environments for businesses, schools, and organizations. Their expertise in meeting ISO-8 clean-room air quality standards, along with years of collaboration with Health Canada, has positioned them as a trusted protector of over 25,764,000 square feet of indoor space.

Partnering with Blade Air is Air Sniper, a company based in Calgary, Alberta. Air Sniper specializes in developing and manufacturing air sanitization technology independently tested by third-party labs. Their solutions have proven to be highly effective, destroying airborne pathogens such as COVID-19, influenza, staph, and mould with an impressive 99.9% efficiency. Since 2015, Air Sniper has been a leader in providing flexible air purification solutions for businesses across Canada, with expertise in meeting industrial-scale needs.

To learn more about this groundbreaking initiative and the crucial role played by Blade Air and Air Sniper in safeguarding school environments, read the full article here.

Stay informed about the latest advancements in air quality solutions and join the mission to create healthier and safer environments for everyone.

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