Why Sustainability is Critical for Modern Data Centers

Data centers are the backbone of today’s digital economy, but they are also among the most energy-intensive facilities in the world. With rising electricity demand, stricter environmental regulations, and corporate sustainability commitments, operators are under pressure to reduce emissions without compromising performance. This requires improving energy efficiency in both power and cooling systems, with UPS efficiency being a critical starting point.

To achieve these goals, data centers must focus on energy efficiency at every layer of their infrastructure. Power systems, particularly uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), play a pivotal role. Choosing high-efficiency UPS technology can significantly cut energy losses, reduce cooling demand, and lower the facility’s overall carbon footprint.

The Role of UPS Efficiency in Sustainability

In a data center, UPS systems ensure that critical IT loads remain online during any power disturbance. However, traditional UPS designs can waste a considerable amount of energy through heat losses and conversion inefficiencies.

Modern high-performance UPS systems, like Legrand’s Keor FLEX, minimise these losses by operating at ultra-high efficiency across a wide load range — often cutting heat losses by up to 50% compared to legacy designs. The result is a lower Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and reduced operational costs, both of which directly support sustainability objectives.

How Keor FLEX Contributes to Lower Emissions

Keor FLEX is Legrand’s high-power modular UPS, engineered specifically to address the challenges of modern data centers. Its design combines scalability, efficiency, and reliability to deliver measurable sustainability benefits.

Key Features:

• Ultra-High Efficiency: Over 98% in double conversion and up to 99% in energy-saving modes, reducing energy waste and cooling needs.
• Modular Scalability: Add or replace power modules without downtime, avoiding oversizing and wasted energy.
• Reduced Cooling Demand: Lower heat output decreases the load on HVAC systems, further cutting energy use.
• Compact Design: A smaller footprint means less building space, contributing to overall energy savings. 
   

By integrating Keor FLEX, data centers can reduce their carbon emissions while maintaining the high availability their operations demand.

Strategies for Sustainable Power Infrastructure

1. Adopt Modular Architecture

Modular UPS systems allow data centers to scale capacity based on actual demand, avoiding energy waste associated with oversized equipment.

2. Optimize Energy Performance

Using UPS systems with high conversion efficiency ensures more of the supplied power reaches IT equipment, lowering both energy consumption and emissions.

3. Leverage Intelligent Monitoring

Advanced monitoring tools — integrated with DCIM or BMS — track energy usage and system performance, helping operators identify inefficiencies and proactively manage sustainability targets.

4. Plan for Future Growth

Sustainable design is future-focused. Choosing systems like Keor FLEX ensures that as workloads increase, efficiency remains high without requiring disruptive infrastructure changes.

Business and Environmental Benefits

Investing in energy-efficient UPS technology delivers benefits beyond emissions reduction:

• Lower operational costs through reduced electricity use
• Extended equipment life due to lower thermal stress
• Improved environmental compliance with sustainability standards and regulations
• Enhanced reputation for businesses committed to green operations

Legrand supports data center operators in achieving their environmental goals with solutions that combine technical innovation and sustainable design. The Keor FLEX UPS embodies this commitment, helping facilities reduce emissions while maintaining the performance and reliability that critical IT environments require.

By adopting high-performance solutions like Keor FLEX, data centers can cut energy use, lower emissions, and stay ahead of environmental regulations — without sacrificing uptime. Discover how Legrand’s sustainable power and cooling solutions can support your facility’s green goals at Legrand Data Center Solutions.