FEATURE
WE MUST CONTINUE PUSHING
FORWARD AND EXPLORING
CREATIVE STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT LOCAL
AND GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFORTS .
In business , the word ‘ value ’ typically refers to the financial worth of an organisation , but when talking about data centres and sustainability , value takes on multiple meanings . Yes , value is and always will be associated with a business ’ financial assets , but to operate successfully in a world where climate concerns and human environmental damage top the list of the biggest global threats , today ’ s data centre providers must also take a long-term approach to adhering to ecological and community values . After all , these elements , combined with financial success , are inextricably linked to positive outcomes .
Data centre operators have an even greater role and responsibility for environmental stewardship than their communities might believe . For instance , data centres are major consumers of power . In 2020 , the average data centre is estimated to have used between 400 and 500 terawatt hours . And as the European data centre market grows by a CAGR of 11 % by 2023 , sustainability initiatives by operators will be increasingly essential .
But the road to environmental sustainability is not the job of one person , company or data centre provider , and it ’ s not just about reducing electricity consumption . Improved sustainability will only happen if data centres , local authorities and regional utility organisations work together on projects and solutions that advance their shared environmental goals . And while reducing electricity is important , it ’ s not the only factor that needs to be considered when driving sustainability initiatives . Limiting carbon emissions , conserving water and minimising resource and construction waste are also critical to the effort .
As data centre operators , we are in a unique position to become leaders in this sustainability initiative , and not just because of the amount of power our facilities consume . We traditionally have close ties to our communities and relationships with utility partners , which put us in a prime position to positively impact sustainability efforts in those regions . We also tend to have a better understanding than most about how our industry impacts the environment , as we continually monitor Power Usage Effectiveness ( PUE ), invest in more efficient cooling equipment and generally strive to be good environmental stewards .
But there ’ s always room for improvement . To that end , let ’ s dive a little deeper into the importance of partnerships and some specific tactics we can employ to ensure a better and more sustainable future for the regions we serve and the world at large .
Forging local and industry partnerships is key
It ’ s cliche to say ‘ we ’ re all in this together ’, but when it comes to environmental sustainability , it ’ s absolutely true . Sustainability can only be achieved by data centre operators and local organisations asserting their commitments to conserving natural resources and minimising environmental footprints – and proactively working together to realise those commitments .
There are many ways in which we can contribute and become valuable partners in this joint effort . For example , we can continue to work closely with our regional utility partners to better manage expected loads , develop innovative energy storage solutions and invest in renewable energy . We can also work with local government agencies on longer term planning for energy and infrastructure needs that drive carbon www . intelligentdatacentres . com
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