The Definitive Guide toAI Data Centers
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GuideGlossaryERF

ERF · Energy Reuse Factor

Fraction of facility energy exported as useful heat (e.g. district heating); a rare metric where higher is better.

Fraction of facility energy recaptured and exported as useful heat rather than rejected to atmosphere.

Also written as: Energy Reuse Factor

Current numbers

≥500 kWEU EED data-center reporting threshold (~31 data points incl. PUE/WUE/ERF/REF; due 15 May annually)as of 2026-08-24 · register ↗
10% / 15% / 20%German EnEfG Energy Reuse Factor minimum for new data centers (2026 → 2028)as of 2026-08-24 · register ↗
≥500 kWEU EED Delegated Reg. (EU) 2024/1364 reporting threshold; ERF reported alongside PUE, WUE, REF to the EU database (~31 data points)as of 2026-08-24 · register ↗

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