Patent ID: 8209056

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for providing energy assessment and optimization in a data center that includes at least one cooling provider, and at least one cooling consumer, the at least one cooling consumer having cooling requirements, the method comprising: receiving data regarding cooling availability and power consumption for the at least one cooling consumer, cooling capacity of the at least one cooling provider, and a physical relationship between the at least one cooling consumer and the at least one cooling provider in the data center; wherein the at least one cooling provider comprises at least one cooler and the at least one cooling consumer comprises at least one equipment rack and wherein the physical relationship is based on configuration and layout of the at least one cooler and the at least one equipment rack in the data center; storing the received data; determining a first coupling factor based on the received data and an air ratio; wherein the air ratio is based on airflow from the at least one cooler and airflow of the at least one equipment rack; determining at least one value representative of airflow distribution effectiveness in the data center between the at least one cooling consumer and the at least one cooling provider based on the first coupling factor; adjusting the first coupling factor to a second coupling factor using a graphical user interface; determining the at least one value representative of the airflow distribution effectiveness based on the second coupling factor; and displaying at least one of the first coupling factor, the second coupling factor and the at least one value representative of the airflow distribution effectiveness in the data center between the at least one cooling consumer and the at least one cooling provider.