Artificial intelligence is fueling one of the largest infrastructure expansions we’ve seen in decades. As data centers grow larger and more powerful, one question is becoming increasingly important:

How do you cool them efficiently and responsibly?

While conversations often focus on electrical demand, cooling systems play an equally critical role in the performance, reliability, and sustainability of modern data centers. Choosing the right cooling strategy can affect everything from operating costs and energy efficiency to long-term water consumption.

Recently, Andy Charon, Business Development for Tennessee at CIS Industries, joined the This Week in Rockdale: Data Centers podcast to discuss the engineering behind today’s data center cooling systems.

During the episode, Andy breaks down complex topics into practical, easy-to-understand concepts, including:

  • The differences between evaporative and closed-loop cooling systems.
  • Why water-based cooling systems are commonly used in hyperscale data centers.
  • What cooling requirements look like for a hypothetical 200-megawatt data center.
  • How much water these systems require both during startup and throughout daily operation.
  • The engineering considerations behind selecting the right cooling approach based on climate, infrastructure, and long-term operational goals.

One particularly timely topic is the relationship between water use and sustainability. As communities across the country face increasing pressure on water resources, understanding the tradeoffs between different cooling technologies is becoming an important part of planning future data center developments.

Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all answer, the discussion focuses on the technical factors engineers, developers, and owners should evaluate when designing mission-critical facilities.

As demand for AI infrastructure continues to grow, so does the need for experienced partners who understand the unique challenges of mission-critical cooling. At CIS Industries, we’re proud to support data center projects throughout the Southeast by working alongside owners, engineers, contractors, and OEM partners to deliver reliable HVAC and cooling solutions. Conversations like this reflect our commitment to sharing knowledge, solving complex challenges, and helping shape the future of mission-critical infrastructure.

Watch the Full Conversation

Want to learn more? Watch the full podcast to hear Andy discuss the engineering behind modern data center cooling, the role of water in mission-critical facilities, and the factors owners, engineers, and contractors should consider as AI infrastructure continues to expand. Whether you’re involved in designing, building, or operating data centers, this conversation offers valuable insights into one of the industry’s most important topics.