Case Study: Emerson Electric achieves 75% cooling energy reduction and faster ROI with QTS Realty Trust

Emerson - Customer Case Study

QTS Realty Trust, a leading provider of secure, compliant data center solutions, needed to improve cooling efficiency and monitoring across its rapidly growing portfolio (from a single site in 2005 to coast‑to‑coast facilities). The company targeted a full return on investment within 2.5 years and required a turnkey upgrade that would correct uneven airflow, improve visibility, and be completed within a five‑week window with minimal disruption to operations.

QTS partnered with Liebert Services to install EC plug fans and Liebert iCOM controls for under‑floor pressure management and BMS integration, with OEM project teams handling coordination and unexpected piping obstacles. The retrofit earned a $150,000 utility rebate, delivered about $12,000/month in initial energy savings, produced more than a 75% immediate reduction in Liebert thermal unit energy use, improved PUE by 0.16, eliminated air leakage, improved airflow uniformity and system visibility, and exceeded ROI expectations by roughly 40%.

Emerson Electric