Your Data Center Is Cool. But Is It Efficient?
Today’s data centers are under constant pressure to maximize efficiency and reduce costs, all while maintaining uptime and meeting performance expectations. Cooling, which can account for nearly half of a data center’s energy consumption, often becomes a silent contributor to inefficiencies.
That’s why it’s so important to have a clear understanding of how cooling resources are being used. Enter Cooling Capacity Factor (CCF), a critical metric that shines a light on how well (or poorly) your cooling infrastructure is matched to your actual IT load. With the right Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software, operators can turn CCF into a powerful decision-making tool.
With Modius® OpenData®, a comprehensive DCIM software platform, data center operators can not only track CCF in real time but also transform it into actionable insights that lead to smarter, more efficient cooling strategies.
Cooling Systems Are Often Overbuilt and Undervalued
It’s common for data centers to deploy more cooling than they actually need. The logic is simple: better safe than sorry. But this “just in case” approach leads to overbuilt systems that consume unnecessary energy and strain operational budgets.
That’s where Cooling Capacity Factor (CCF) comes in. CCF is defined as:
CCF = Total running cooling capacity / IT Load * 110%
The extra 10% in the calculation accounts for heat outside of the IT Load such as people, lighting, and the building envelope.
A CCF of 1.1 to 1.2 is ideal. You have approximately one redundant cooling unit for every 10 running units, and your cooling is closely related to your heat load. If between 1.2 and 1.5, you may have the opportunity to shut down a cooling unit to save energy. Between 1.5 and 3.0 is common, and there are significant opportunities for savings and improved airflow management. Over 3.0 is very wasteful; you have over three times what you need to cool your equipment. A high CCF comes with consequences:
- Wasted energy that drives up your PUE and operating costs
- Underutilized cooling infrastructure that takes up valuable space and capital
- Higher operational costs, from unnecessary maintenance to increased wear and tear
The biggest challenge? Many data center operators lack real-time visibility for their cooling efficiency. They rely on assumptions, outdated spreadsheets, or siloed BMS systems that only offer a partial picture. The result is missed inefficiencies, delayed responses to issues, and decisions based on guesswork rather than data—leading to higher costs and potential risks to uptime.
Tracking and Optimizing CCF for Smarter Data Center Management
Understanding your CCF is the first step toward right sizing your cooling infrastructure. When you know exactly how your cooling capacity compares to your IT load, you can make smarter, data-backed decisions.
The benefits of tracking CCF include:
- Lower Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) by eliminating waste
- Better use of physical space by identifying unnecessary cooling units
- Confident planning when it’s time to deploy or consolidate equipment
- Longer equipment lifespan thanks to balanced load and less wear
But CCF isn’t a one-time calculation, it’s a dynamic metric that should be monitored continuously at the device level. Real-time CCF monitoring lets you catch issues early, adjust proactively, and plan strategically. It also helps avoid future over-provisioning when adding capacity, by showing exactly how much cooling you really need.
How Modius OpenData Makes CCF Practical and Powerful
Modius OpenData is a full-featured DCIM software platform that makes tracking and optimizing CCF simple, scalable, and actionable.
At the heart of this capability is the OpenData Collector. This tool:
- Gathers real-time data from your cooling units using standard protocols like Modbus and BACnet. It can also get this data from your BMS if needed.
- Supports custom computed fields, allowing operators to define their own CCF formulas using actual data from IT and facility equipment. For example, defining the IT Load as the sum of the monitored loads on each of your UPSs.
With CCF calculated natively inside OpenData, operators can:
- Set alarms when CCF values fall outside of desired thresholds
- Visualize trends on dynamic dashboards
- Generate historical reports to guide long-term strategy
Whether you’re running a single site or managing a global portfolio, OpenData adapts to your environment. It supports a wide range of equipment types, simplifies deployment, and scales as your operations grow.
In short, Modius OpenData transforms CCF from a concept into a live, usable metric that supports:
- Accurate, automated CCF tracking
- More efficient cooling operations
- Data-driven cost savings
And it’s all delivered in a user-friendly platform built specifically for data center operators with scalable tools for large and small environments.
Start Optimizing Cooling with Confidence
In today’s data centers, guessing is expensive. CCF gives you the visibility you need to stop guessing and start optimizing.
When tracked with the right DCIM solution, CCF can help you reduce waste, extend equipment life, and drive smarter decisions across your operations.
Modius OpenData is the DCIM software built to make it easy to help you unlock cooling efficiency and operational insights.
Want to see how OpenData can calculate your CCF in real time? Contact us today or schedule a demo to learn more.
We are passionate about empowering our clients to run more profitable data centers while providing unmatched visibility into operational data. Modius has been delivering DCIM solutions since 2007. We are based in San Francisco, are ISO/IEC 27001 certified and proudly certified as a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB). Contact us at sales@modius.com or (888) 323.0066 to learn more.
About the author
Meet Ray Daugherty, a Senior Services Consultant in our Solution Delivery organization with over 42 years of experience in the data center software market. At Modius for more than three years, he’s been instrumental in managing OpenData implementations, including a significant project spanning 11 data centers across four European countries. Reflecting on his career, Ray has seen DCIM evolve from siloed tools focused on basic monitoring to integrated, AI-driven solutions prioritizing sustainability and environmental monitoring. Looking ahead, he’s excited about how AI will shape the industry, driving innovations in workforce automation and cybersecurity, and he aims to help OpenData meet these future demands. A standout feature of OpenData, he notes, is its ability to monitor data at scale in a vendor-agnostic way, providing data center operators with actionable insights. Outside of work, Ray enjoys traveling, board games and card games, and the occasional scuba diving adventure. His expertise, dedication, and zest for exploration makes him an invaluable part of the Modius team.
