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Sustainability

Water Usage Effectiveness

WUE

Annual site water usage (litres) divided by IT equipment energy (kWh). Lower is better.

Full Definition

Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) measures how efficiently a data centre uses water for cooling and humidification. Calculated as annual water usage (litres) ÷ IT equipment energy (kWh). Evaporative cooling and cooling towers consume water at site level; AI liquid-cooled clusters may consume water at the power generation source. WUE is increasingly reported alongside PUE as facilities face scrutiny over water use in water-stressed regions.

Also Known As

water usage effectiveness

Source Reference

The Green Grid White Paper #35

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