Define the term "PUE" in the context of data centers.

The term "PUE" stands for Power Usage Effectiveness, which is a critical metric used to evaluate the energy efficiency of data centers. PUE is calculated by dividing the total amount of power consumed by the data center by the power consumed solely by the servers and IT equipment within that facility. This ratio provides insight into how efficiently a data center utilizes energy; a lower PUE value indicates better energy efficiency.

The importance of PUE lies in its ability to help data center operators identify areas for improvement in energy consumption and operational efficiency. Monitoring PUE helps to assess the effectiveness of cooling systems, power distribution, and other infrastructure components, contributing to more sustainable practices in data center management.

Thus, the correct choice accurately captures the essence and significance of PUE as a metric focused on the energy efficiency of data centers.