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.

What is A Sustainable Business? And How it Can Benefit You?

Jennifer Crowley
Aug 8, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Jul 19, 2024

What is a Sustainable Business?

A sustainable business, also known as a green or environmentally sustainable business, refers to an enterprise that operates in a manner that considers and minimizes its impact on the environment, society, and the economy. It is characterized by practices and strategies that integrate environmental and social considerations into its core operations and decision-making processes.

Glass mason jar spilling out stacks of coins with atop a bed of black earth amidst a greenery backdrop. Soil and green sprouts grow from each stack of coins — A sustainable business aims to achieve long-term economic viability while considering the environmental and social aspects.

Here are some key characteristics and principles of a sustainable business:

Environmental Stewardship

A sustainable business takes proactive measures to minimize its negative environmental impact. This includes adopting energy-efficient practices, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing waste generation, promoting recycling and resource conservation, and using renewable resources whenever possible.

Social Responsibility

A sustainable business recognizes its responsibility towards society and engages in ethical practices. It ensures fair treatment of employees, promotes diversity and inclusion, upholds human rights, and maintains safe and healthy working conditions. It also engages with local communities, supports social initiatives, and respects cultural diversity.

Economic Viability

A sustainable business aims to achieve long-term economic viability while considering the environmental and social aspects. It seeks to strike a balance between profitability and responsible business practices. This involves incorporating sustainability into its business strategies, assessing and managing risks, and pursuing innovation and efficiency to create economic value.

Stakeholder Engagement

Sustainable businesses actively engage with their stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, local communities, and investors. They involve stakeholders in decision-making processes, listen to their concerns and feedback, and address their needs. This collaborative approach helps build trust, foster positive relationships, and align business goals with stakeholder expectations.

Supply Chain Management

A sustainable business considers the sustainability performance of its supply chain. It seeks to work with suppliers that share similar values and adhere to environmental and social standards. This includes ensuring responsible sourcing, promoting fair trade practices, and supporting suppliers in improving their sustainability practices.

Transparency and Reporting

A sustainable business embraces transparency by openly communicating its environmental and social performance to stakeholders. It may publish sustainability reports, disclose environmental impacts, and provide information about its sustainability goals, progress, and challenges. This promotes accountability and allows stakeholders to make informed decisions and evaluate the business’s sustainability performance.

Why Is Sustainability Important?

Wooden blocks stacked in a grouping of 9. Each block features a building block sustainability icon; together, these images showcase the pillars of sustainability — 55% of consumers say environmental responsibility is significant when they are choosing a brand.

A sustainable business plays a significant role in the environmental and social parts of society. Additionally, a business benefits both financially and socially from promoting sustainable efforts. Companies that think about the future and their broader impacts on society and the planet see tangible benefits. These include:

Employees are increasingly looking for mission-driven, purpose-led employers who care about the planet when deciding where to work. 71% of employees and employment seekers say that environmentally sustainable companies are more attractive employers.
Consumers are willing to pay a premium for goods from brands that are environmentally responsible. 80% of consumers indicate sustainability is essential to them.
Governments, investors, employees, and customers are demanding new levels of enterprise accountability, including action to address climate change.
Many of the world’s top economies have or are developing corporate disclosure requirements around environmental impact, driving businesses to curb GHG emissions.
The rise of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment criteria and sustainable investing means that a sustainable business is inherently more attractive to the rising numbers of responsible investors. Investment in ESG assets may reach USD 53 trillion by 2025, representing over a third of global assets.

Benefits of Sustainability in Business:

Investor Appeal

4 out of 5 personal investors plan to act on sustainability or social responsibility factors in the next 12 months.

Increased Longevity of Transformation Investments

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformation in most companies. If that transformation is sustainable, you’re building a more resilient business that is ready for disruption and new opportunities.

Competitive Advantage

55% of consumers say environmental responsibility is very or significant when choosing a brand. Being known as a sustainable business can improve your brand awareness and help you attract consumers that are favourably predisposed to companies actively engaged in sustainable practices.

Talent Acquisition

Employees seeking purpose-driven employment want to work for sustainable and socially responsible companies. By building a reputation as a sustainable business, you can attract and retain the right employees for your company.

Potential Challenges with Sustainability in Business

Cost: Implementing sustainable business practices typically requires higher upfront investments. In the short term, it will often be cheaper to stick with the status quo. Some organizations will need help building an investment case to show how immediate investment will result in more stable profitability over the long run.
Supply chain inefficiency: Companies may lack the ability to implement sustainable solutions or even know where to start.
Lack of expertise: Being unprepared to develop a corporate sustainability vision, strategy, and framework is a considerable risk. Every business needs an ecosystem of innovation partners to help them reinvent the world and create a sustainable future.

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