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.

The Environmental Advantages of Building Green

Jennifer Crowley
Jul 28, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Jul 9, 2024

Tiered green glass office building surrounded by trees and even has greenery on the rooftop — Green building takes into account the life cycle of a building, including the impact of construction, operation, maintenance, and eventual demolition or recycling to minimize its impact on the environment..

As concerns about climate change and the environment continue to grow, more and more people are turning to sustainable building practices. One popular approach is green building, which seeks to minimize the environmental impact of construction and promote a healthier, more sustainable way of living. In this post, we will explore the concept of green building and its environmental benefits.

Defining Green Building

A Green building, also known as sustainable building or eco-building, refers to the practice of designing and constructing buildings in a way that minimizes their environmental impact. The environmental advantages of Green Building include everything from reducing energy and water consumption to using eco-friendly materials and promoting a healthier indoor environment. Green building also takes into account the life cycle of a building, including the impact of construction, operation, maintenance, and eventual demolition or recycling.

Green building is a holistic approach that looks at the entire building and its surroundings. For example, a green building might be designed to work harmoniously with the natural environment, incorporating elements like passive solar heating or natural ventilation. It might also prioritize using recycled or locally sourced materials, reducing transportation emissions and supporting the local economy.

Environmental Advantages of Building Green

Green building offers a wide range of environmental benefits. Here are some examples of the most significant advantages:

Reduced carbon footprint: Buildings significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Green buildings are designed to minimize this impact by reducing energy consumption and using renewable energy sources like solar or wind power. By doing so, they help to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emitted into the atmosphere.
Conservation of natural resources: Traditional building practices often rely on non-renewable resources like virgin timber and fossil fuels. Green building prioritizes using sustainable materials, such as recycled steel, bamboo, and reclaimed wood. It also promotes using water-efficient fixtures, like low-flow toilets and showerheads, and reusing greywater. By reducing the demand for new resources and minimizing waste, green building helps to conserve natural resources and reduce the environmental impact of construction.
Improved indoor air quality: Traditional building materials often contain harmful chemicals and pollutants that can affect indoor air quality. On the other hand, green building emphasizes the use of non-toxic, low-emission materials, such as low-VOC paints, adhesives, and sealants. It also prioritizes ventilation and air filtration systems to promote a healthier indoor environment.
Energy efficiency: Green buildings are designed to use less energy, reducing fossil fuel demand and mitigating climate change’s effects. This can be achieved through various measures, such as using insulation and air sealing to reduce heat loss, installing energy-efficient HVAC filters, lighting and appliances, and utilizing renewable energy sources like solar or wind power.

Real-Life Examples

Green building is becoming increasingly common around the world. Here are some real-life examples of green buildings and their environmental benefits:

The Bullitt Center

Facade of the Bullit Center in Seattle Washington — The Bullit Centre's sustainable architecture aims to achieve net-zero in energy and water usage.

Seattle, United States

The Bullitt Center is a 6-story office building that is designed to be completely self-sustaining, generating its own electricity, collecting and filtering rainwater, and composting its own waste. It is also constructed with a range of eco-friendly materials, including Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood and low-VOC finishes.

The Pixel Building

Melbourne, Australia

The Pixel Building is a multi-use building powered entirely by renewable energy, with a 98-kilowatt solar array on the roof. It is also constructed with a range of sustainable materials, such as recycled content carpet tiles and low-VOC paints. The building is designed to be carbon-neutral over its lifetime, offsetting any carbon emissions produced during construction and operation.

The Edge

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Edge is a futuristic office building designed to be one of the most sustainable buildings in the world. It features a range of innovative green technologies, including a smart lighting system that adjusts to the needs of individual employees and a rooftop solar array that provides all of the building’s electricity needs. The building is also designed to be highly energy-efficient, with triple-glazed windows and a high level of insulation.

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