Data centers are becoming critical infrastructure for both the digital economy and the energy system. However, many of the metrics, incentives, and sustainability frameworks we use to evaluate them continue to focus on isolated aspects: energy efficiency, water consumption, or emissions.

This talk offers a broader perspective. In a context marked by the growth of AI, pressure on power grids, and increasingly stringent regulations, efficiency should no longer be understood solely as consuming fewer resources, but rather as maximizing the economic, environmental, and strategic value generated by the infrastructure as a whole.

Drawing on operational experience and the European regulatory debate, the discussion will address the limitations of metrics such as PUE, the role of flexibility and smart load management, and the need to evaluate data centers not only by how much energy they consume, but also by the value they bring to the system.