October Lunch Meeting
October 21, 2026
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
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Petroleum Club
777 Main Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Directions
Join Us for Our Monthly Lunch Meeting!
Please arrive at 11:30am for networking and lunch. The presentation will start at 12:00pm.
Presentation Topic/Summary: The Free Cooling Paradox: Balancing Energy Efficiency, Sustainability, and Reliability in Modern Data Centers
As artificial intelligence and high-density computing continue to increase data center energy demand, free cooling has emerged as a key strategy for improving efficiency and reducing operating costs. By leveraging favorable outdoor conditions, economizer systems can significantly reduce mechanical cooling requirements and support sustainability objectives. However, introducing outdoor air also increases exposure to airborne contaminants, humidity, and corrosive pollutants that can affect electronics reliability. This presentation examines the “Free Cooling Paradox”—the challenge of balancing energy efficiency with environmental risk. Attendees will learn how outdoor air quality, contamination control, environmental monitoring, filtration, and system design influence reliable operation. Real-world examples and industry standards are discussed to provide practical guidance for implementing energy-efficient cooling strategies without compromising mission-critical data center performance.
Speaker: Christopher Muller, ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer
Currently employed by American Air Filter (AAF) International as their Global Director, High Purity Segment – Gas-Phase, Chris Muller is recognized as a world-wide authority on the topics of indoor/environmental air quality, the application and use of gas-phase air filtration, filtration and enhanced air cleaning, corrosion control and monitoring, and electronic equipment reliability. Written and spoken extensively on these and related topics with more than 175 articles and peer-reviewed papers, more than 100 seminars, and 8 handbooks. Contributed to chapters in two handbooks on the application and use of gas-phase air filtration, wrote the chapter on contamination control in the ASHRAE Datacom Series Handbook – Particulate and Gaseous Contamination in Datacom Environments, wrote a chapter on gas-phase air filtration in the NAFA Air Filtration Handbook, a chapter on airborne molecular contamination in the Semiconductor Manufacturing Handbook, 3rd Ed. (in print), and on Contamination Control in the Data Center Handbook: Plan, Design, Build, and Operations of a Smart Data Center, 2nd Ed.
*Please register early so that we can give an accurate head count. Late fees will go into effect Thursday, October 15th after 5:00pm.
Tickets
$35.00 Member Ticket
$45.00 after 05:00 pm October 15
$45.00 Non-Member Ticket
$55.00 after 05:00 pm October 15
