Airedale International - Experts & Thought Leaders

Data centers run 24/7 and are now caught between the Service Level Agreements that demand 99.999% uptime and the ESG report that scrutinizes every kilowatt of energy used. Meanwhile, the board wants both redundancy and a path to net-zero emissions. Traditional wisdom suggests they can’t have both, as every redundant backup chiller and N+1 configuration pushes them further from sustainability targets. That wisdom is outdated because smart operators are rewriting the rules. They’re already achieving Tier 3 redundancy while driving PUE below 1.3. They’re meeting stringent uptime requirements without sacrificing their sustainability commitments. The old trade-offs no longer apply when they approach cooling infrastructure differently. Can redundancy and sustainability actually work together? The New Equation for Data Center Efficiency The tension between redundancy and efficiency has long defined data center design. You’ve probably spent countless hours defending the N+1 cooling configuration to sustainability teams who see nothing but excess capacity and wasted energy. Meanwhile, they’re explaining to operations why they can’t simply remove “unnecessary” equipment to improve PUE metrics. Traditional cooling infrastructure forces this conflict. The legacy chillers and CRAH (Computer Room Air Handler) unit designs originated from a different era, when energy was cheap, carbon reporting was voluntary, and rack densities typically topped out at 5kW. These systems achieve redundancy through brute force multiplication. Need reliability? Double everything. The environmental cost was an afterthought. However, the math has changed due to stricter mandates in many countries. For example, Germany’s Energy Efficiency Act mandates a PUE of 1.2 for new builds, effective after July 1, 2026. Operating costs and corporate sustainability goals The pressure to optimize is higher. Now, they have to compete on both uptime and efficiency metrics, which directly impact the operating costs and corporate sustainability goals. Despite all of this, traditional cooling equipment still forms the backbone of most facilities. They can’t rip and replace overnight, nor should them. The question becomes: How do they realistically push toward a PUE of 1.0 without compromising the redundancy that keeps the servers running? Redundancy Revisited: Reliability Meets Sustainability The customers expect continuous availability, and compliance frameworks demand it. Unfortunately, a single cooling failure can trigger cascading outages that result in millions of dollars in lost revenue, damaged reputation, and potential SLA penalties. The challenge lies in how they implement redundancy. Traditional approaches treat backup capacity as a form of insurance. An N+1 configuration means running four units when three would suffice, with that fourth unit consuming power even at minimal load. Moving to 2N redundancy means you’re running two parallel systems when one is sufficient. Distributed redundancy offers better efficiency, but it also adds complexity that many facilities struggle to manage effectively. This resource multiplication directly opposes sustainability goals. Every redundant component increases the total facility power, pushing the PUE higher. Worse still, underutilized equipment often operates outside its optimal efficiency range. Modern modular precision cooling solutions Thankfully, modern modular precision cooling solutions, such as Airedale by Modine’s coolant distribution units (CDUs), offer an alternative path. Instead of oversizing individual units, they can deploy smaller, right-sized modules that scale incrementally. These systems implement N+1 redundancy at a granular level. Designed for direct-to-chip and hybrid cooling environments, CDUs facilitate simplistic, modular, efficient, and performance-driven deployments. The Sustainability Mandate, Pushing Towards PUE 1.0 The pressure comes from all directions. ESG investors scrutinize the environmental metrics, customers demand carbon-neutral operations, and regulators want strict efficiency standards. Industry expectations have also shifted dramatically. A few years ago, a PUE of 1.5 was considered respectable; however, now, anything above 1.3 is no longer considered good enough. The complexity of approaching these targets while maintaining redundancy can’t be overstated. They’re optimizing multiple variables simultaneously: cooling efficiency, power distribution losses, and redundancy overhead. Incentives align with environmental goals Improvement in one area might compromise another. For example, raising inlet temperatures improves chiller efficiency, but this may require faster fan speeds and consume more power. However, financial incentives align with environmental goals. Lower PUE directly translates to reduced operating costs. In regions with carbon pricing, efficiency improvements have an immediate bottom-line impact. Government and utilities even offer rebates for efficient cooling technologies, offsetting upgrade costs. That’s where Airedale comes in. Its high-efficiency precision cooling equipment specifically addresses these challenges. Airedale’s precision AC units and chillers feature variable-speed compressors, advanced economization cycles, and predictive AI controls that optimize performance across varying loads. For example, its AI-enhanced Cooling System Optimizer™ reduces energy consumption by up to 40%. All this leads to lower PUE and sustainability gains. Bridging the Gap with Plans that Blend Efficiency and Reliability The convergence of efficiency and reliability happens through intelligent design. Leading data center facilities are implementing strategies that enhance both metrics simultaneously. One such example is AI-driven predictive cooling. Here, machine learning algorithms analyze thousands of data points to anticipate thermal demands before they materialize. This predictive capability allows them to run leaner cooling infrastructure without risking hot spots. Dynamic thermal management takes this further. Instead of static setpoints, the cooling infrastructure continuously adapts to real-time conditions. During low-load periods, systems automatically reduce capacity, improving efficiency. When demand spikes, additional modules activate seamlessly. This approach maintains redundancy while ensuring active equipment operates at optimal efficiency points. More best practices to balance redundancy Here are a few more best practices to balance redundancy with sustainability: Right-sizing infrastructure requires a detailed analysis, but it pays enormous dividends. Many facilities operate with excessive cooling capacity based on their nameplate IT loads, which rarely materialize. Instead, they can analyze actual heat loads and implement containment strategies. By doing so, they make redundancy more efficient by default. Real-time monitoring and predictive analytics provide the visibility necessary to optimize operations continuously. Modern DCIM platforms integrate with cooling controls, which provide holistic views of thermal performance. With it, they can identify inefficiencies and track PUE in real-time. Smart modular designs completely change the redundancy equation. Instead of monolithic systems, they deploy building blocks that scale with demand. Need more redundancy? Add a module. Is efficiency suffering from underutilization? Redistribute loads across fewer units. This flexibility is exactly what Airedale by Modine’s cooling portfolio represents — modularity, predictive intelligence, and optimized redundancy without waste. The Cooling System Optimizer coordinates multiple units, ensuring they work in harmony rather than in competition, thereby maximizing efficiency while maintaining the required redundancy levels. Real-world Applications Consider a 10MW facility struggling with a PUE of 1.45. It’s running a traditional N+1 configuration with four 1,000-ton chillers. Let’s say that, during typical operations, the IT load hovers around 7 MW, indicating that the cooling infrastructure operates well below optimal capacity. The fourth chiller provides redundancy but contributes to inefficiency. By transitioning to a modular approach with intelligent controls, the same facility could deploy twelve 300-ton units with variable-speed compressors. Advanced sequencing would ensure optimal loading across active units while maintaining N+1 redundancy. During partial loads, fewer modules operate at higher efficiency, and the control system predictively stages units based on IT demand patterns learned over time. The measurable outcomes transform both operational and sustainability metrics, including: PUE reduction Annual energy savings Operating cost reduction Enhanced reliability through intelligent redundancy management Reduction in water consumption through optimized cooling tower operations This scenario mirrors what facilities achieve with modern cooling infrastructure. Products in Airedale’s SmartCool or TurboChill ranges demonstrate how contemporary engineering solves yesterday’s trade-offs. High-efficiency compressors, sophisticated economization, and intelligent controls work together to maintain redundancy while pushing the boundaries of efficiency. Striking the Perfect Balance Redundancy and sustainability are complementary objectives that require thoughtful integration. The outdated methods of achieving reliability through oversizing and excessive redundancy no longer serve data centers that compete on both uptime and efficiency metrics. The best approach is to select cooling infrastructure that enhances operational flexibility and efficiency. Modern systems must adapt to varying loads, integrate with facility-wide optimization platforms, and scale incrementally as demands evolve. The technology already exists now to achieve Tier 3 and better redundancy while maintaining a lower PUE. The next steps should focus on evaluating the current infrastructure against these modern benchmarks. Where are you sacrificing efficiency for redundancy? Which systems operate outside their optimal efficiency ranges? How could modular, intelligent cooling solutions transform the redundancy strategy? The path forward requires partners who understand both the technical complexities and business imperatives you face. Airedale’s advanced modular cooling solutions can help you achieve these exact critical objectives.

Modine, a diversified pioneer in thermal management technology and solutions, announced $180 million in orders for Airedale by Modine™ data center cooling systems from a new customer that is a pioneering AI infrastructure developer. The high-capacity equipment is purpose-built to meet the customer’s objectives to provide scalable, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions for AI applications by building large-scale, building-optimized data centers. Modine data center solutions Airedale by Modine data center solutions are designed to lower the total cost of ownership by delivering superior Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) through free-cooling technology and advanced control systems. The products will be manufactured at Modine’s state-of-the-art facilities in Rockbridge, Virginia, and Grenada, Mississippi, with delivery expected throughout 2025 and the first half of 2026. Modine data center cooling products Airedale by Modine data center solutions are designed to lower the total cost of ownership “These initial orders from an important new customer demonstrate the value provided by Airedale by Modine data center cooling products, underscoring our strategic advantage in this market,” said Eric McGinnis, President, Climate Solutions. “We expect this to be a long-term partnership as we support their significant growth objectives to develop some of the largest, high-performance computing clusters in the world.” Aggressive growth targets for business “Building relationships and delivering on promises are key to meeting and exceeding our aggressive growth targets for this business,” added Neil D. Brinker, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our current order intake, significant development funnel and this new business win provide us with confidence in our ability to drive organic growth, and support our expectation of delivering organic growth in excess of 30% in our next fiscal year.” Modine’s precision-engineering capabilities “We are excited to leverage our engineering expertise to provide a fit-for-purpose solution that helps this important customer achieve their objectives,” said Art Laszlo, Group Vice President, Data Centers at Modine. “Airedale by Modine partners with our customers’ to solve their most complex challenges through customized solutions that are meticulously engineered by our global Data Centers team to deliver superior operating performance, efficiency, and reliability.” These substantial orders underscore Modine’s precision-engineering capabilities and commitment to providing innovative and efficient thermal management solutions that meet the rigorous demands of modern data centers.

When Harry Lau, Administrator for Facilities and Operations for the Livonia Public Schools, joined the district in 2013, he identified a significant need to improve the HVAC equipment throughout the entire school system. All 25 buildings, including schools and administration offices, had significant inefficiencies with their HVAC systems. The infrastructure was outdated and the horizontal unit ventilators that were in use were from the 1950s and 60s and were well beyond their life expectancy. The old units were prone to freezing, and there were control issues that further exacerbated the problem. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and inefficient temperature controls led to discomfort among staff and students, impacting the overall learning environment. His primary goal was to reduce the number of environmental air quality concerns, reduce district utility and maintenance costs, and improve the overall comfort and air quality throughout the system. The Solution To address these issues, Livonia Public Schools secured funds via a successful bond measure To address these issues, Livonia Public Schools secured funds through a successful bond measure. There were multiple contractors and manufacturers involved for the entire system upgrade, but for the classrooms specifically, the district chose to upgrade to Airedale by Modine Classmate® vertical units. Looking at the specifications of these units, Harry was certain the Classmate® would meet their needs.  The previous units had structural and design issues that led to multiple repairs, and Harry knew that they would have fewer maintenance issues with the Classmate® because of the way they are designed. They also chose to modernize control of the system by implementing a building management system allowing for real-time monitoring and centralized management of the HVAC systems across all buildings. The Results The HVAC system upgrades have resulted in dramatic improvements in IAQ and energy efficiency. The new systems have provided better temperature control, faster cooling, and heating, and have reduced energy consumption by 20%. The upgraded systems also led to a quieter environment, enhancing the learning experience. The ability to monitor and manage the HVAC systems in real time has allowed for proactive maintenance and further cost savings. Harry said he wanted the classroom instructors to have some anonymity with temperature control. While the set points follow ASHRAE recommendations, the units are equipped to give the teachers some control to bump the temperature up or down a few degrees to suit their comfort level and those of the students.  "With partners like Modine, they opened our eyes on ways of doing things," said Harry Lau, adding "It has been refreshing to actually be heard by the professionals." Implementation of HVAC upgrades Livonia Public Schools has been recognized by the U.S. DOE’s Efficient and Healthy Schools Program Because of their commitment to improving IAQ and energy efficiency, Livonia Public Schools has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Efficient and Healthy Schools Program. This program recognizes and assists school districts seeking to implement high-impact indoor air quality and efficiency improvements. They were honored for optimizing their operations to improve building performance. The district was also recognized by the city as a green energy partner. Harry said that the classroom learning environments have been dramatically updated and they have seen a significant improvement. The consistent modulation of the fresh air has been greatly noticed. Livonia Public Schools’ proactive approach to HVAC upgrades A huge point of pride for the district was being able to confidently inform their staff and parents that they were ahead of the curve in ensuring quality indoor air once students and staff were able to return to indoor classroom learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Livonia Public Schools’ proactive approach and successful implementation of HVAC upgrades have set a benchmark for other districts aiming to improve their learning environments through better air quality and energy efficiency.