Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 68 | Page 26

EDITOR ’ S QUESTION

WHAT SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES HAVE YOU INTRODUCED INTO YOUR BUSINESS STRATEGY TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO GREENER DATA CENTRE OPERATIONS ?

Data centre executives are paying close attention to their management practices to ensure they meet their sustainability targets most effectively . A number of organisations across the industry are offering the opportunity to equip data centre leaders with the required skills to lead their teams with sustainability top of mind .

Uptime Institute , the global digital infrastructure authority , is one example and recently announced another addition to its growing educational offerings with the launch of its new Accredited Sustainability Advisor ( ASA ) programme . The ASA course is designed to deliver essential knowledge of sustainability concepts and the practical skills data centre professionals need to develop and implement a comprehensive , world-class sustainability strategy .
More than 70 countries have established commitments to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas by 2050 . New regulations are proliferating worldwide , with hundreds of pieces of climate change and sustainability legislation , standards and requirements enacted over the past 10 years . As demand for senior-level data centre professionals and IT / facility engineers with advanced sustainability expertise continues to rise , sustainability skillsets have never been more valuable or impactful . The ASA course cuts through the mounting volume of information and opinion around sustainability programmemes and offers insight on global best practices .
The first online instructor-led , ASA course includes four half-day sessions of intensive instruction and exercises , ending with a proctored examination on the fifth day . Uptime also offers private course options for companies that wish to create exclusive corporate learning and development programmemes for ongoing employee education .
“ With the growing effects of climate change on health , safety and global economies , world-class digital infrastructure owners and operators require hands-on , practical training to build a comprehensive and fully actionable sustainability strategy ,” said Christopher M . Hill , Global Head , Product Management , Uptime Institute . “ Our course ensures participants graduate with the skills necessary to lead their organisations in achieving sustainability objectives , both now and into the future .”
Uptime ’ s longstanding leadership in digital infrastructure sustainability and efficiency dates back to its inaugural Green Data Center Forum in 2007 . The launch of the new ASA course represents yet another step in the organisation ’ s expanding programmeme to inform , guide and support sustainability advancements throughout the sector . Through its new sustainability educational training , Sustainability Consulting Services and related offerings , Uptime advises some of the world ’ s largest digital infrastructure owners and operators , many vendors and equipment manufacturers , regulators and policymakers to help the industry design , build and operate digital infrastructure sustainably – without compromising resiliency .
Uptime recently announced a complete series of six Executive Advisory reports that take managers through the key areas that must be addressed in an environmental sustainability strategy , from creating the strategy and reducing energy consumption to tracking and reporting carbon emissions and complying with key standards and legislation .
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