Massachusetts Businesses Are Paying Too Much to Cool Their IT Rooms
February 3rd, 2025
4 min read
By Dennis Allen
If your server room is running colder than necessary, you could be wasting thousands of dollars each year on energy costs. Many Massachusetts businesses keep their IT rooms at unnecessarily low temperatures, fearing that raising them even a few degrees will cause overheating or equipment failure. The reality? This overcooling leads to inflated electricity bills without significantly improving IT performance.
At Harold Brothers, we’ve spent 16 years helping businesses find the ideal balance between cooling efficiency and IT performance. We understand the challenges of managing IT room temperatures while dealing with Massachusetts' high energy costs.
In this article, we’ll break down how adjusting your server room temperature can lead to cost savings, using real Massachusetts energy rates to show you exactly how much you can save. Plus, we’ll provide practical strategies to optimize your cooling system—without compromising your IT equipment.
By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap to reduce energy costs without compromising IP reliability.
Understanding the Ideal Server Room Temperature
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends that data centers and server rooms maintain temperatures between 64.4°F (18°C) and 80.6°F (27°C).
IT professionals typically prefer cooler environments, between 68°F (20°C) and 71°F (21.7°C), to extend hardware lifespan and reduce overheating risks. HVAC experts, advocate for slightly warmer temperatures to improve energy efficiency and reduce operational costs.
Finding a balance between these perspectives can help businesses maximize both performance and cost savings.
The Cost of Cooling: A Massachusetts Perspective
Massachusetts has one of the highest electricity rates in the United States. As of early 2024, the average commercial electricity rate in Massachusetts was approximately 16.19 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
This means that data centers and businesses running IT server rooms at unnecessarily low temperatures were incurring significant costs.
Cost Comparison: 65°F vs. 75°F
Cooling a server room at 65°F requires substantially more energy than maintaining it at 75°F. According to industry studies, for every 1°F increase in server room temperature, cooling costs decrease by approximately 4-5%.
Assume a typical small to mid-sized server room consumes 10,000 kWh per month, look at the price difference when you set your thermostat at 75° instead of 65°.
| Server Room Temperature | Energy Usage (kWh/month) | Monthly Cost (@$0.1619/kWh) |
| 65°F | 10,000 kWh | $1,619 |
| 75°F | 6,000 kWh (40% savings) | $971 |
| Total Savings | 4,000 kWh/month | $648/month or $7,776/year |
Annual Savings Potential
By increasing the temperature from 65°F to 75°F, businesses can save approximately $648 per month or $7,776 per year per server room. For companies operating many server rooms, these savings can be even greater.
6 Ways to Optimize Your IT Cooling System (Without Sacrificing Performance)
Lowering cooling costs does not mean compromising IT equipment performance. By using efficient cooling strategies, businesses can maintain optimal conditions while reducing energy costs.
1. Adjust Temperature Setpoints Gradually
Rather than making a large shift from 65°F to 75°F, businesses should increase server room temperatures gradually while monitoring equipment performance. Many modern servers are designed to handle higher temperatures without risk, so small adjustments can help find the ideal balance between cooling efficiency and reliability.
2. Improve Airflow Management
Poor airflow management can cause temperature imbalances, leading to unnecessary overcooling. Businesses should consider:
- Hot aisle/cold aisle configurations to direct airflow efficiently.
- Installing blanking panels to prevent hot air recirculation.
- Using perforated tiles strategically in raised floor environments.
3. Use Smart HVAC Controls
Smart thermostats and variable-speed cooling systems can adjust cooling output based on real-time server room demands. Instead of running air conditioning at full capacity continuously, these systems modulate cooling levels dynamically, significantly reducing energy consumption.
4. Leverage Free Cooling Opportunities
Massachusetts has a cool climate for a significant part of the year, making it an ideal location for free cooling techniques, such as:
- Air economizers, which draw in cool outside air to reduce reliance on mechanical cooling.
- Liquid cooling solutions, which dissipate heat more efficiently than traditional air conditioning systems.
5. Regular Maintenance to Improve Efficiency
Neglected HVAC systems can drive up cooling costs due to inefficiencies. A Preventative Maintenance Contract (PM) would be ideal. If you don’t have a PM then Regular maintenance should include:
- Cleaning and replacing air filters.
- Checking refrigerant levels.
- Ensuring airflow pathways are clear and unobstructed.
- Inspecting and sealing leaks in ductwork.
6. Install Temperature and Humidity Sensors
Monitoring different zones of the server room can help businesses prevent unnecessary overcooling. Smart sensors provide real-time data, allowing for more precise temperature control and preventing hot spots that can lead to excessive energy use.
Debunking the Myth: Will Higher Temperatures Harm IT Equipment?
A common misconception is that higher temperatures shorten the lifespan of IT equipment. While excessive heat can be harmful, most modern servers are designed to function efficiently at higher temperatures than in previous decades.
Tech giants like Google and Facebook have experimented with higher server room temperatures, operating some data centers at 80°F to 85°F without performance degradation.
For small to mid-sized businesses, raising IT room temperatures to 74-75°F provides major cost savings—without risk.
Case Study: A Massachusetts Business Saves Thousands
A Boston-based financial services company was maintaining its server room at 66°F, spending approximately $2,500 per month on cooling costs. By implementing the following changes:
- Raising the temperature to 74°F
- Improving airflow with hot/cold aisle separation
- Upgrading to a variable-speed cooling system
They reduced cooling energy usage by 35%, saving $10,500 annually while maintaining optimal IT performance.
Striking the Right Balance Between Cooling Costs and IT Performance
Keeping your IT room cool is essential, but overcooling leads to unnecessary energy expenses. By adjusting your server room temperature according to the ASHRAE guidelines and using smart cooling methods, you can save money while keeping your IT systems working well.
For a long time, businesses have spent too much money cooling IT rooms because they thought lower temperatures were necessary. But companies like Google and Facebook have shown that modern servers can work just fine at higher temperatures, saving energy and money.
Where Should I Go From Here?
Now that you know how temperature changes can affect your costs, the next step is to take a look at your server room's cooling system. Start by gradually raising the temperature settings, improving airflow, and using smart HVAC controls to save energy.
Harold Brothers specializes in helping businesses maximize IT performance while reducing energy costs. If you’re ready to take control of your cooling expenses, contact us today for expert guidance on optimizing your server room cooling strategy.
Dennis Allen is the Chief Operating Officer and the Director of HVAC for Harold Brothers Mechanical. His current role includes overseeing daily operations in all aspects of the HVAC department from Estimating, Project Management, Equipment and Subcontractor procurement through completion of all HVAC projects. Dennis currently lives in Marshfield, Ma with his Wife of 15 years and their 2 children. Dennis is very involved in town youth sports and volunteers with Marshfield Youth Soccer and Hockey. You will see him at hockey rinks and soccer fields throughout New England on most weekends, when Dennis is not at the rink or fields, he enjoys spending time with family and friends and is frequently spotted fishing in Duxbury Harbor. Dennis takes pride in his upbringing in the mechanical industry, he started as an apprentice in 2001 and has worked his way up through hard work and dedication in his field. He has worked on multiple large-scale projects throughout his career and credits his development to the tradesman who took him under their wing and provided the knowledge needed to succeed. In his current role he works closely with property owners and engineers to assure each and every project is designed to meet each client’s needs. He is very passionate in the success of the younger generation getting into the field and has donated his time to teach and educate field personnel on how to interpret design documents, installation practices and understanding of current codes. He believes all people regardless of background should be given the opportunity to enter the Pipefitting/Refrigeration industry and be set up for success. He recognizes that his industry is facing a major skilled trade shortage and is firm in his belief that training and education should be made available to all people looking to enter the trade. In 2016 he had the foresight to see our industry was evolving to more energy efficient systems and took a trip to Japan to educate himself on the Variable Refrigerant Flow systems which we currently see being implemented in designs throughout the commonwealth. The people of Japan have been utilizing this technology since the 1970’s and provided invaluable insight into how these systems get manufactured, installed and operate. In 2024 Dennis was appointed a member of the Massachusetts Board of Pipefitters, Refrigeration Technicians, and Sprinkler Fitters.
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