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.