System and method for controlling energy consumption in a data center. An embodiment includes: segregating hot air from cold air by preventing hot air exhausted from hot aisles from flowing into cold aisles; measuring temperature and relative humidity values of the segregated hot and cold air; detecting temperature and relative humidity values of outside air; mixing the segregated hot air with a volume of the outside air, the volume of the outside air depending on a result of the measuring and the detecting; measuring temperature and relative humidity values of the mixed air; comparing the temperature and relative humidity values of the mixed air and the temperature and relative humidity values of the segregated cold air to IT specifications; cooling the mixed air based on a result of the comparison; and providing the cooled mixed air in the cold aisles.