{"id":22790,"date":"2026-01-12T06:49:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T06:49:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.otava.com\/?p=22790"},"modified":"2026-01-12T15:37:47","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T15:37:47","slug":"energy-efficient-data-centers-in-indiana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.otava.com\/blog\/energy-efficient-data-centers-in-indiana\/","title":{"rendered":"Energy-Efficient Data Centers in Indiana: What Businesses Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

U.S. data center energy use keeps climbing at a pace that surprises a lot of people. National projections show demand reaching 325\u2013580 TWh by 2028<\/a>, and that shift alone explains why efficiency has turned into a core business issue rather than a niche sustainability topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Indiana\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Indiana sits in the middle of this pressure. The state still relies on a 42\u201345% coal-powered grid<\/a>, so any business hosting workloads here has to think seriously about where the electricity comes from and how efficiently it gets used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As major investments from companies like Amazon and Meta reshape the region, the spotlight on data centers in Indiana becomes even brighter. These new facilities are large enough to influence grid planning, local policy, and business expectations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, choosing a provider now means looking past incentives and drilling into efficiency metrics, renewable energy commitments, and the technical design that supports reliable workloads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>How Rising Energy Demand Shapes Data Centers in Indiana<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Energy demand for data centers is growing on two fronts at once. At a national level, analysts project 13\u201327% CAGR from 2023\u20132028, which is a huge jump compared to previous cycles. A simple way to see this is to think about how much computing has shifted toward cloud and AI in just the last two years.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Indiana<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Gartner estimates 40% of large AI data centers<\/a> may face power constraints by 2027. That means the industry is already seeing tension between available electricity and the high-density computing that new applications require.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indiana feels this pressure locally. Forecasts suggest the state\u2019s energy demand may reach 3% growth by 2030<\/a>, which is a major change after a decade of nearly flat demand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a state where so much electricity still comes from coal, inefficient data centers end up paying more and producing more emissions. Businesses relying on these facilities face the downstream effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Indiana\u2019s Energy Landscape and Incentives Businesses Should Understand<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Indiana\u2019s grid mix shapes almost everything about energy-efficient operations. Coal supplies 42\u201345% of statewide electricity, putting Indiana among the most carbon-intensive grids in the country. That\u2019s why it matters how much electricity a facility consumes just to stay online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The state also ranks high in emissions from power generation, which adds another layer of responsibility for operators. When the grid itself carries a heavier environmental footprint, the best strategy for businesses is to choose facilities that act intentionally to offset that impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indiana also provides strong financial incentives. The Data Center Gross Retail and Use Tax Exemption<\/a> lets qualifying projects skip sales and use tax on equipment and even on energy for 25\u201350 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, incentives bring a practical question: Does a provider use these savings to run more efficiently, or do they just add more capacity? That\u2019s the kind of detail every business should understand before choosing among data centers in Indiana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Real-World Examples Shaping Indiana\u2019s Data Center Efficiency Debate<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Indiana\u2019s story comes to life through two major projects: Amazon\u2019s expansion in the north and Meta\u2019s renewable-powered build in Jeffersonville. Each project highlights a different angle of the energy-efficiency conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Amazon<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Amazon announced an additional $15 billion<\/a> to build AI-driven data center campuses, adding 2.4 GW of capacity. To support this load, Amazon and NIPSCO structured an energy agreement that includes 3 GW of new gas-fired generation plus 400 MW of storage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another way to think about it is that these facilities are so large that they require their own dedicated infrastructure upgrades. NIPSCO estimates this structure may generate $1 billion in bill credits for existing customers over 15 years, which is meant to prevent shifting costs to residents or small businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Meta<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meta\u2019s $800 million Jeffersonville data center<\/a> aims for 100% renewable energy and LEED Gold certification. The campus will rely on new renewable projects built in-state and incorporate strategies for on-site water efficiency. The site also benefits from a 35-year tax exemption, showing how incentives and sustainability goals can align when a hyperscale operator commits early to green energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community concerns revolve around water usage, coal reliance, and how new energy deals may affect long-term grid planning. These concerns make efficiency and transparency more than optional; they become expectations for providers of all sizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>What These Case Studies Mean for Local Businesses<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hyperscale builds set the tone. They introduce practices such as renewable PPAs, advanced cooling strategies, and open reporting on energy sourcing. Even if a business isn\u2019t storing data in a hyperscale facility, these patterns shape what smaller colocation and cloud providers should offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the biggest operators can design around efficiency, then companies choosing data centers in Indiana should expect similar commitments from their own partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Standards and Metrics That Define an Energy-Efficient Data Center<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Energy efficiency relies on strict standards and measurable performance metrics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ASHRAE 90.4 gives operators performance-based limits for mechanical and electrical systems. Instead of telling providers what equipment to use, it sets efficiency thresholds that facilities must meet. ASHRAE TC 9.9 then guides temperature and humidity ranges that support safe operation without wasting cooling energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ENERGY STAR adds another reference point. Its 1\u2013100 scoring model lets facilities compare their performance against national benchmarks. OTAVA\u2019s earlier Michigan facility once earned this certification<\/a>, which means it operated in the top 25% of comparable data centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most U.S. data centers sit around PUE ~1.8<\/a>, while energy-efficient sites target PUE \u2264 1.2. A lower PUE means less energy wasted on cooling and power distribution, which is a major benefit in states with carbon-heavy electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>What Businesses Should Ask Providers<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Do you publish PUE metrics regularly?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. How do you align operations with ASHRAE 90.4 and TC 9.9?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Are you ENERGY STAR certified or pursuing similar benchmarks?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    <\/span>Techniques Driving Energy Efficiency in Indiana Data Centers<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Efficiency comes from design choices that combine equipment, monitoring, and renewable planning. DOE-backed research highlights cooling as a major area for improvement. Free cooling, liquid cooling, and economizers remove heat with far less energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At the compute layer, virtualization and consolidation reduce idle servers, which IBM identifies as a core part of green data center design. Smart power distribution and granular monitoring help operators stay within ASHRAE guidelines while limiting waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Since Indiana\u2019s grid leans heavily on coal, renewable procurement becomes especially important. Structured energy agreements, PPAs, or utility-based green programs give operators a path to offset the grid mix and reduce the environmental impact of their workloads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/span>Cooling Innovations<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n