Five key tenets of data centre sustainability
How do you improve data centre sustainability? Learn five key actions to build carbon-neutral facilities that boost energy efficiency, resilience and decarbonisation.
1. Setting a strategy
Set a bold, actionable strategy with measurable targets and transparent reporting.
2. Efficient design
Implement sustainable data centre designs, prioritising longevity and low embodied carbon.
3. Efficient operations
Drive sustainability in operations through digitisation and analytics.
4. Secure sustainable power
Buy renewable energy and tackle Scope 2 emissions.
5 Supply chain decarbonisation
Decarbonise supply chains and reduce Scope 3 emissions.
Set a bold and actionable strategy with measurable targets to advance data centre sustainability. Analyse critical data inputs, identify goals and prioritise the next steps towards efficiency, resource conservation and decarbonisation.
Watch the video to learn how EcoStruxure™ Resource Advisor supports sustainability planning by tracking real-time sustainability goals and performance metrics.
Sustainability measurement and reporting
Whether you are tracking metrics for compliance reporting or monitoring progress toward sustainability goals, it is essential to measure and monitor data centre sustainability KPIs including energy consumption, carbon emissions, water usage and other environmental impacts.
Key sustainability metrics
Our industry-leading white paper, ‘Guide to Environmental Sustainability Metrics from Data Centres’, presents 28 key metrics across five impact areas.
Read the metrics guide
Identify a reporting system
An environmental sustainability management software presents data from multiple sources, enabling analytics, reporting and optimisation.
Read the white paper Discover the 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 centres grows, maintaining maximum operational efficiency is paramount. Learn how data and analytics are key to improving efficiency across the data centre 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.
Learn more about EIME
Digitisation 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 the EcoStruxure™ platform software
Modernisation and maintenance
Use a mix of maintenance, modernisation and end-of-life services to sustainably improve performance.
See the e-guide Get the white paper
Boost data centre sustainability with renewable energy
As the number 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 programmes.
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 stabilise energy costs.
Read our guide
Microgrids
Microgrids increase resilience while decreasing grid load, carbon footprint and energy costs. See how a microgrid can protect your data centre while enabling greener operations.
Read the white paper Explore our off-grid solutions
Battery storage
Replace diesel generators with sustainable options such as Li-Ion battery storage systems, fuel cells, hydrogen and modular nuclear power. Explore green backup power.
Get the white paper Read the blog
Secure sustainable power
Unlock secure, sustainable power for your data centre. We guide you from grid assessment and renewable energy procurement to developing resilient onsite microgrids.
Dive into the white paper
Scope 3 emissions and decarbonisation
How can data centres measure and reduce Scope 3 emissions? Begin with an inventory and accounting to help prioritise areas for reduction, and explore how to decarbonise your data centre’s supply chain.
What are Scope 3 emissions?
Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions, which are often difficult to monitor because they are 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 centre lifecycle CO₂ calculator
Our calculator estimates and sees key drivers of your data centre’s carbon footprint. Try it to see which emissions sources to prioritise for reduction.
Test the calculator
Catalyse PPA partnership
We have partnered with Intel and Applied Materials to launch a combined PPA, driving sustainability across the semiconductor value chain.
Learn more
Selecting low-carbon, sustainable solutions
How can you tell if the data centre solutions you purchase are truly sustainable? Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are critical to determining embedded carbon and making product comparisons to evaluate data centre sustainability impact.
Sustainable products by design
Learn about the standards for product labelling and how to read an environmental declaration document.
Read the white paper
Explore our EPDs
Look up our product environmental information including embedded carbon, and RoHS and REACH compliance.
Find your product
Environmental Data Programme
Explore how the Environmental Data Programme reflects our commitment to transparency and create trust with our ecosystem.
Learn more
Sustainable power foundation
Boost sustainability with our Galaxy VL UPS for ultimate energy efficiency, and our SF6-free AirSet switchgear, which eliminates potent greenhouse gases from your data centre operations.
Galaxy VL Medium Voltage Switchgear
Resources
What are sustainable data centres?
These are facilities that house systems to store, manage and use data in the most simultaneously economical and ecological way possible. Organisations utilise these systems to process and distribute large amounts of information in a safe environment. Unlike traditional solutions, these so-called green data centres consider the emissions produced during lifecycle operations. To limit climate impact, it is crucial to implement energy-efficient data centres 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 centres?
One of the benefits of using energy-efficient solutions is cost-efficient operations. Data centres require a considerable amount of energy, so reducing consumption lowers operating expenditures. Power-saving measures allow for better cost optimisation. In the long term, this results in significant savings. Another crucial advantage of applying efficient energy solutions for data centres is minimising environmental impact. By lowering energy consumption, we reduce the data centre’s carbon footprint, which is a key aspect in limiting climate change. Let’s not forget about water conservation. Because of heavy workloads and heat generated by IT equipment, data centres often require water cooling. It is possible to reduce water usage by applying the latest technology.
How can you reach data centre sustainability targets?
To reach data centre 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 centres can generate in large quantities. Another important thing is to set achievable targets, and utilise renewables and clean energy to reach data centre sustainability emissions goals. Several third-party entities offer data centre 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.