The word ‘datacentre’ is often prefaced by the words ‘power hungry’, and there is no getting away from it – they are. So, given the fact that the world is facing a climate crisis, it is crucially important that datacentres, as vital constituents of civil infrastructure, utilise sustainable energy sources and are as energy efficient as possible. So, what are the implications of the drive for energy efficiency on datacentre design?
Temperature & humidity control
Accurate temperature and humidity control is vital for the correct functioning of IT equipment. Low humidity increases the risk of static electricity, and high humidity can result in condensation. Incorrect or fluctuating temperature can also harm IT devices or shorten their lifetime.
Cooling/air-conditioning in datacentres is responsible for around 40% of the entire energy consumption, so it is important that monitoring and control systems are supported by sensors that not just stable, accurate and reliable, but also located in the correct locations.
Modular monitoring solutions allow datacentre managers and designers to scale or change their operations, without needing to replace all the sensors every time a change is implemented. This is especially useful for colocation datacentres, which provide facilities, utilities, and security for the equipment of multiple customers, with strict uptime guarantees.
The move toward modular sensors is part of a global shift in infrastructure design that emphasizes flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability. By adopting these innovations, datacentres can meet operational needs while also reducing carbon footprint.
Sensor innovation
Over the last two years, leading datacentre organisations have switched to a new modular multiple sensor format known as a sensor daisy-chain. This is an installation method in which one long cable is run down a datacentre server aisle with multiple transmitters attached at regular intervals. This replaces the traditional method which employed a separate cable for every sensor. Each sensor monitors temperature and humidity to ensure optimal conditions are maintained.
Daisy chaining is a plug-and-play solution with standard M8 quick connectors so that probes can be swapped in and out easily and as often as required. Daisy chaining is a cost-effective solution, which only needs one power supply and a single control panel to run hundreds of probes, all connected using Modbus communication.
This approach reflects a growing trend in technology design where modularity enables sustainable and future-proof infrastructure. Daisy chaining supports business and environmental goals by reducing waste, minimising raw material use, and enabling flexibility.
Daisy-chain experience to-date
Vaisala’s datacentre customers have found that the sensor chain solution can be installed quickly and easily by a technician. A hardwired sensor can take 40 minutes to install, whereas daisy-chained sensors can be connected in seconds. In addition, substantially less cable is needed than with analog outputs, which enhances the simplicity of installation and maintenance, and saves valuable raw materials.
Calibration is simplified because each measurement probe in a chained setup is interchangeable and can be swapped in and out with no downtime.
As a modular solution, the daisy-chain provides flexibility to adapt to changes in datacentre size or layout, or to move sensors to another site. No additional wiring is necessary – operators simply extend the cable and reuse existing sensor probes or add more. Transmitters are available with or without displays, depending on site-specific requirements.
Sensor accuracy and long-term stability
The energy costs of datacentres are generally very significant, so it is vital that the portion of cost (40%) that cooling and air conditioning represent is managed as accurately as possible. If sensors are reading incorrectly by even small amounts, the impact on cooling costs can be enormous. For this reason, it is important that sensors retain their performance characteristics in the long-term – ideally over ten years, if serviced and maintained according to specifications.
In a nutshell
Modular solutions such as daisy-chained sensors, are helping datacentres to improve efficiency and meet the growing demands of the digital economy, whilst also responding to climate change by reducing energy consumption and avoiding unnecessary waste.
For more information on how to reduce cooling costs with improved measurement accuracy, visit: www.vaisala.com/en/lp/how-reduce-data-center-cooling-energy-consumption-insiders-guide
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This post was written by Anu Kätkä, Vaisala
About Vaisala Ltd
Vaisala is a global leader in measurement instruments and intelligence for climate action. We equip our customers with devices and data to improve resource efficiency, drive energy transition, and care for the safety and well-being of people and societies worldwide. With almost 90 years of innovation and expertise, we employ a team of close to 2,500 experts committed to taking every measure for the planet. Vaisala series A shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki stock exchange.
We help data centers optimize cooling, reduce energy consumption, and maintain uptime with reliable and accurate temperature, humidity, and CO₂ sensors.
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Published 2nd December 2025
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