Back to AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework

 Tools

In this framework, “tools” is a broad term, encompassing:

• Design Tools: Software or resources aiding AI data center design
• Operational Tools: Tools ensuring smooth running of systems, including IT equipment management and thermal management
• Maintenance Tools: Equipment used for long-term upkeep of data centers
• Integration Tools: Resources such as power management tools, siting integration resources, and land management tools

This section does not provide a comprehensive list of available tools. Rather, these tools are discussed and incorporated throughout the framework as appropriate within the context of the relevant project phase.

It should be noted that many tools used by the data center industry are proprietary, limiting their availability for public frameworks or guidance. This framework therefore largely focuses on publicly available resources and industry publications.

Back to top

Standards

There are existing standards regulating the design and energy efficiency of data centers that may be helpful to AI data center developers, such as:

• ASHRAE Standards:
  • ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 90.4-2025 Energy Standard for Data Centers
    • Summary fact sheet (for the 2022 version) 
  • ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2025 Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
    This standard covers non–data center areas like offices and employee facilities.
  • ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 127-2020 Method of Testing for Rating Air-Conditioning Units Serving Data Center (DC) and Other Information Technology Equipment (ITE) Spaces
  • ANSI/ASHRAE/ICC/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1 Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings.
    Addresses green construction codes and sustainable building practices that may be of use to AI data centers. 
  • ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 100-2024 Energy and Emissions Building Performance Standard for Existing Buildings. Applies to existing buildings that may be retrofitted into data centers.
    • Fact sheet 
  • Proposed ASHRAE Standard 240P Quantification of Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Buildings
• National Electrical Code® (NFPA 70-2026). Essential for safe electrical system design.
• NFPA 855 Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems (2026)
• US DOE Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Products 10 CFR 430
• US DOE Energy Conservation Standards for Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment 10 CFR 431 

Back to top

Other Resources

Reports and Design Guidance

• EPRI Report: Scaling Intelligence: The Exponential Growth of AI’s Power Needs 
• EPRI Report: Powering Intelligence: Analyzing Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Energy Consumption 
• ASHRAE Datacom Series. The ASHRAE TC 9.9 publications and design resources are pivotal for many AI data centers.
  Click Here for their resource page.
  • ASHRAE TC 9.9 Datacom Encyclopedia
    • “The Datacom Encyclopedia offers updated, previously unpublished content formerly covered by the Datacom Series books Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments, Design Considerations for Datacom Equipment Centers, and Liquid Cooling Guidelines for Datacom Equipment Centers, as well as PDFs of every edition of the 14 books in the ASHRAE Datacom Series for historical reference. Over time, the pertinent information from all the books will transition to be housed in this online encyclopedia.”
  • ASHRAE TC 9.9 White Paper: Data Center Power Equipment Thermal Guidelines and Best Practices 
  • ASHRAE TC 9.9 White Paper: Emergence and Expansion of Liquid Cooling in Mainstream Data Centers 
  • ASHRAE TC 9.9 White Paper: Cold Weather Shipping Acclimation and Best Practices 
  • ASHRAE TC 9.9 White Paper: Data Center Storage Equipment – Thermal Guidelines, Issues, and Best Practices 
  • ASHRAE TC 9.9 White Paper: Hard Disk Drive Performance Degradation Susceptibility to Acoustics 
  • ASHRAE TC 9.9 White Paper: Water-Cooled Servers: Common Designs, Components, and Processes 
  • ASHRAE TC 9.9 Technical Bulletin: Liquid Cooling: Resiliency Guidance for Cold Plate Deployments 
  • ASHRAE TC 9.9 Technical Bulletin: Edge Computing: Considerations for Reliable Operation 
• ASHRAE Handbook—HVAC Applications, Chapter 20, Data Centers and Telecommunication Facilities (SI) 
• ASHRAE Handbook—HVAC Applications, Chapter 20, Data Centers and Telecommunication Facilities (I-P)
• ENERGY STAR data center guidance and certifications
• The Green Grid - Data Center Metrics and Tools: Resource Effectiveness (DCRE) Energy Efficiency (PUE), Water Usage (WUE), Water Usage Impact (WUI), IT Work Capacity (ITWC), and related white papers
• UL resource: Low voltage DC microgrids and DER systems
• InterNational Electric Testing Association ATS – 2025 Standard for Acceptance Testing Specifications for Electrical Power Equipment and Systems 
• ASHRAE CEBD Resources
• LBNL Data Center Design Best Practices

Economic Planning Resources

Considering resources beyond technical tools, such as policy and economic factors affecting AI data centers, can be instrumental in the planning processes associated with data center development. Here are some resources and resource collections that may be helpful:

• A 50-state survey regarding tax incentives for data centers https://hbfiles.blob.core.windows.net/webfiles/TaxIncentivesforDataCenters50StateSurvey.pdf 
• The Solar Electric Power Association's database on large-user tariffs (DELTa) https://sepapower.org/large-load-tariffs-database/
• State-by-state data center regulation
  https://www.datacenterpolicy.com/database and https://www.steptoe.com/en/data-center-regulation-tracker.html (updated March 2026)

Currently, many states are enacting laws to address the energy and environmental impacts of data centers, with many states introducing legislation to regulate or incentivize development. Some key legislative actions from various U.S. states in 2025 include:

• California: Legislators passed bill AB-93 requiring water usage reporting for data centers. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB93.  This bill was vetoed by the Governor in October 2025.  
• Colorado: Signed HB25-1177 into law, allowing utilities to offer “economic development rates” for large power users, such as data centers. https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1177
• Georgia: The Georgia Public Service Commission approved a new rule to prevent data center electricity costs from being passed on to other ratepayers. https://psc.ga.gov/site/assets/files/8617/media_advisory_data_centers_rule_1-23-2025.pdf
• Kansas: A settlement under the State Corporation Commission enacted a new rate plan where large customers pay a minimum monthly bill based on 80% of their contract demand, regardless of actual usage, among other stipulations such as a two-year collateral and an early exit fee. https://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx/25-315_Settlement_Agreement.pdf?Id=f65c8223-c3d3-47a7-b83b-877f318cf355&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
• Minnesota: Substantial modifications were made to the Minnesota Legislature’s environmental and energy regulatory requirements for data centers. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/94/2025/1/HF/16/versions/0/
• New Jersey: Legislation requires the Board of Public Utilities to study the effects of data center electricity usage on costs for other ratepayers. https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2024/PL25/98_.PDF
• Oregon: New rules from the Public Utility Commission place more stringent economic requirements and regulations on large load customers. https://www.oregon.gov/puc/utilities/pages/large-load.aspx
• Texas: SB 6 passed, empowering the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to disconnect power to large loads, such as data centers, during emergencies. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?Bill=SB6&LegSess=88R and https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/pdf/SB00006E.pdf
• Utah: SB 132 was enacted to enable power suppliers to contract directly with data centers for energy, which helps prevent costs from being passed to other ratepayers. https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/enrolled/SB0132.pdf
• Virginia: The Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission published a study about the impacts of data centers on the state economy. https://jlarc.virginia.gov/landing-2024-data-centers-in-virginia.asp.  In April 2026, the following bills related to data centers were signed into law:  HB 1191  https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1191, HB 284 https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB284, and HB 507 https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB507 

Data center development involves many challenges related to policy and market forces. For example, policies may change mid-project, leading to financial instability or cancellation.

In Ohio, for example, recent utility rate changes drove down queued data center projects from 30 GW to 13 GW.¹ Overstatement of power requirements and energy needs can lead to stranded assets for both energy providers and data centers, highlighting the importance of accurate prediction tools.

Historical examples of rapid development challenges and failures, such as the mass exodus during the dot-com boom, underscore the necessity of thoughtful planning and robust frameworks. Efficient data center operation not only benefits the present but also ensures longevity of the industry and surrounding economies.

¹ https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/aep-ohio-slashes-data-center-pipeline-by-more-than-half-report/

Author Acknowledgement

Back to top