Server Energy Cost Calculator – Electricity Expenses
Calculate server electricity costs and energy consumption
Table of Contents
How to Use
- Enter the power consumption per server in watts
- Enter your electricity rate per kWh
- Specify hours of operation per day
- Enter the number of servers
- Click calculate to see your energy costs
Understanding Server Power Consumption
Server power consumption varies significantly based on hardware specifications, workload, and efficiency. Understanding these factors helps optimize energy costs and plan infrastructure budgets.
Typical Server Power Consumption
| Server Type | Power Range | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level tower | 200-400W | Small business, file storage |
| Rack server (1U) | 300-500W | Web hosting, applications |
| High-performance rack | 500-1000W | Database, computation |
| Blade servers | 200-400W each | Enterprise data centers |
| GPU servers | 1500-3000W | AI/ML, rendering |
Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE)
PUE measures data center efficiency. A PUE of 1.5 means for every 1W of server power, 0.5W is used for cooling and infrastructure.
- Excellent: PUE < 1.2
- Good: PUE 1.2-1.5
- Average: PUE 1.5-2.0
- Poor: PUE > 2.0
Tips to Reduce Server Energy Costs
- Use energy-efficient hardware with 80 Plus certified power supplies
- Implement virtualization to consolidate workloads
- Optimize cooling with hot/cold aisle containment
- Consider cloud migration for variable workloads
- Schedule non-essential tasks during off-peak hours
- Regularly decommission unused servers
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I find my server's power consumption?
- Check the power supply rating, use a power meter at the outlet, or check manufacturer specifications. Most servers have power monitoring through IPMI or management software.
- Should I include cooling costs?
- This calculator shows direct power consumption. For total cost, multiply by your PUE factor (typically 1.5-2.0 for small setups, 1.2-1.5 for efficient data centers).
- Do servers use the same power 24/7?
- No, power consumption varies with workload. Servers typically use 30-50% of rated power at idle and peak during heavy loads. 24/7 servers often average 60-70% of maximum rated power.
- What's a typical electricity rate?
- Commercial rates typically range from $0.08-$0.15/kWh in the US. Data centers may negotiate lower rates. Residential rates are often higher at $0.10-$0.25/kWh.