Five key tenets of data center sustainability
How do you improve data center sustainability? We believe that when used in combination, these five actions will drive holistic environmental sustainability.
1. Setting a strategy
Set a bold, actionable strategy with measurable targets and transparent reporting.
2. Efficient design
Implement sustainable data center designs, prioritizing longevity, and low embodied carbon.
3. Efficient operations
Drive sustainability in operations through digitization and analytics.
4. Buying renewable energy
Buy renewable energy and tackle Scope 2 emissions.
5. Supply chain decarbonization
Decarbonize supply chains and reduce Scope 3 emissions.
Set a bold and actionable strategy with measurable targets to advance data center sustainability. Analyze critical data inputs, identify goals, and prioritize the next steps towards efficiency, resource conservation and decarbonization.
Watch the video to see how EcoStruxure™ Resource Advisor enables target setting and analytics for sustainability goals.
Sustainability measurement and reporting
Whether you are tracking metrics for compliance reporting or monitoring progress towards your goals, it is crucial to measure and monitor data center sustainability KPIs across energy, emissions, water, and other areas of impact.
Key sustainability metrics
Our industry-leading white paper, Guide to Environmental Sustainability Metrics from Data Centers, presents 28 key metrics across five impact areas.
Read the metrics guideIdentify a reporting system
An environmental sustainability management software presents data from multiple sources, enabling analytics, reporting, and optimization.
Read the white paper Discover EcoStruxure Resource Advisor
Digital Realty tracks progress
See how our customer, Digital Realty, sets targets, collects data, and measures progress toward sustainability goals.
Read the blog
Ready for the Energy Efficiency Directive? We can help
Let our expertise guide you toward the right strategy, software, and connected solutions to meet the compliance mandates of the Energy Efficiency Directive.
Leveraging efficient design and operations
As the demand for data centers grows, maintaining maximum operational efficiency is paramount. Learn how data and analytics are key to improving efficiency across the data center lifecycle.
Efficient design
Check out our validated plans for efficient IEC and ANSI designs, or learn how ETAP software can model and simulate power operations.
Explore EcoStruxure Reference Designs Learn more about ETAP
Digitization for efficiency
Digitally connected power, buildings, and IT systems enable greater visibility and help make informed decisions to improve performance.
Read the e-book Explore EcoStruxure Platform software
Planning and monitoring
Track performance across monitoring dashboards to make continuous improvement. Utilize digital twin software to anticipate how operational changes will impact efficiency.
Discover EcoStruxure IT DCIM softwareModernization
Use a mix of maintenance, modernization, and end-of-life services to sustainably improve performance.
See the e-guide Read more on modernization
Boost data center sustainability with renewable energy
As the no. 1 power purchase agreement (PPA) solution provider as ranked by Guidehouse Insights, we are a leading advisor on global energy procurement. We can also assist with energy attribute certificates, onsite and offsite projects, and tax equity financing for large programs.
Renewables and cleantech
Navigate complex renewable energy markets with top-ranked expertise you can rely on. Discover how our renewable and cleantech services can reduce emissions and stabilize energy costs.
Read our guideMicrogrids
Microgrids increase resilience while decreasing grid load, carbon footprint, and energy costs. See how a microgrid can protect your data center while enabling greener operations.
Read the white paper Explore our microgrid solutions
Battery storage
Replace diesel generators with sustainable options like Li-Ion battery storage systems, fuel cells, hydrogen, and modular nuclear power. Explore green backup power.
Get the white paper Read the blog
Catalyze PPA Partnership
We have partnered with Intel and Applied Materials to launch a combined PPA, driving sustainability across the semiconductor value chain.
Learn more
Scope 3 emissions and decarbonization
How can data centers measure and reduce Scope 3 emissions? Begin with an inventory and accounting to help prioritize areas of reduction, and explore how to decarbonize your data center’s supply chain.
What are Scope 3 emissions?
Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions often difficult to monitor because they outside a company’s direct control. Our research shows how to make a systematic inventory and begin monitoring.
Read the recommended inventory See a hypothetical model
Data Center Lifecycle CO₂ calculator
Our calculator estimates and sees key drivers of your data center’s carbon footprint. Try it to see which emissions sources to prioritize for reduction.
Test the calculator
Selecting low-carbon, sustainable solutions
How can you tell if the data center solutions you purchase are truly sustainable? Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are critical to determining embedded carbon and making product comparisons to evaluate data center sustainability impact.
Sustainable products by design
Learn about the standards for product labeling and how to read an environmental declaration document.
Read the white paperExplore our EPDs
Look up our product environmental information including embedded carbon and RoHS and REACH compliance.
Find your productEnvironmental Data Program
Explore how the Environmental Data Program reflects our commitment to transparency and create trust with our ecosystem.
Learn more about Environmental Data Program
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What are sustainable data centers?
These are facilities that house systems to store, manage, and use data in the most economical and, at the same time, ecological way possible. Organizations utilize these systems to process and distribute large amounts of information in a safe environment. Unlike traditional solutions, these so-called green data centers consider the emissions produced during lifecycle operations. To limit climate impact, it is crucial to implement energy-efficient data centers that will use less energy while increasing data processing capacity. With the latest technology that significantly improves data management and the introduction of renewable energy, it is possible to reduce maintenance costs and achieve carbon neutrality.
What are the advantages of improving sustainability in data centers?
One of the benefits of using energy-efficient solutions is cost-efficient operations Data centers require a considerable amount of energy, so reducing consumption lowers operating expenditures. Power-saving measures allow for better cost optimization. In the long term, this results in significant savings. Another crucial advantage of applying efficient energy solutions for data centers is minimizing environmental impact. By lowering energy consumption, we reduce the data center’s carbon footprint, which is a key aspect of limiting climate change. Let’s not forget about water conservation. Because of heavy workloads and heat generated by IT equipment, quite often data centers require water cooling. It is possible to reduce water usage by applying the latest technology.
How can you reach data center sustainability targets?
To reach data center sustainability goals, it is important to use solutions equipped with the highest quality components. Their quality allows for low-cost maintenance, lower embedded carbon, and savings in the long term. It also reduces electronic waste, which data centers can generate in large quantities. Another important thing is to set achievable targets and utilize renewables and clean energy to reach data center sustainability emissions goals. Several third-party entities offer data center target-setting plans. The SBTi offers sector guidance and many other features that facilitate the process of establishing targets and setting plans in motion. Bear in mind that this requires setting a sustainability strategy, gathering data inputs, setting target metrics, and then identifying priority actions for improvement.