When discussing carbon emissions, we often think of oil companies, cars, cargo ships, and other large polluters. However, it’s often overlooked that tech companies also contribute to pollution.
This number isn’t staggeringly high, but making up 2% to 3% of total greenhouse emissions is worth checking out. Furthermore, why shouldn’t we all aim to lower pollution and emissions if we can?
Data centers are important among tech companies because they help run numerous platforms and applications. They’re also using a lot of electrical energy, and depending on the type, this might not be sustainable in the long run.
This article explores the problems and solutions that data centers face and how large companies can embrace greener practices.
Current State of Data Center Energy Consumption
Data centers use about 1% of the world’s global electricity demand. Technology is constantly advancing, and we’re gathering and sending more data as time progresses.
You can buy a smart fridge or a dishwasher, and it’ll collect and transmit data as well. Of course, computers, mobile devices, large networks, and companies all play an important part. The bottom line is that it’s unlikely that the need for data will decrease. Along with this, we’ll need more data centers.
With the rise of artificial intelligence, the need for data will increase. AI requires vast amounts of data to train and learn on. Other emerging fields that impact the increase in data collection are big data analytics and cloud services.
Since data collection is here to stay, we need to embrace sustainable data centers. Sustainable data centers are classified based on several different metrics, including energy consumption, cooling efficiency, total CO2, and power usage efficiency (PUE).
By utilizing energy-efficient hardware, we can conserve energy while maintaining the same storage capacity for data.
Environmental Impact of Data Centers
Unfortunately, the environmental impact of data centers goes beyond energy consumption. Depending on their type, facilities that produce energy can cause a lot of pollution.
Computer resources such as CPUs and graphic cards get heated while running. Data centers also require a lot of cooling, which uses a lot of water. This itself can cause a lot of pollution.
Furthermore, we have electronic waste, which occurs when changing components. Electronic waste needs to be appropriately recycled. With sustainable infrastructure, a lot of problems can be avoided.
Benefits of More Sustainable Data Centers
One of the most important benefits of sustainable data centers is reduced environmental impact. Through sustainable solutions, data centers can lower their energy consumption or be more efficient while consuming the same amount of energy.
This can lower greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, which play a significant role in global warming. Better and optimized cooling systems also reduce carbon footprints.
Sustainable data centers are economically more efficient. Starting with environmental impact, some companies will have to pay additional taxes for their carbon footprint depending on their country.
On the other hand, energy-efficient hardware can directly lead to cost savings. Such hardware reduces energy consumption. Electric bills can be a significant portion of the operational costs. Efficient use of resources also extends the lifespan of hardware through reduced wear and tear.
In the long run, this can mean fewer costs for upgrades or replacements. Instead, you can use the money saved to further improve your efforts as an environmentally friendly company. Reducing the costs of maintaining a data center can then lead to more competitive pricing.
In today’s competitive tech world, all advantages are greatly appreciated. Sustainability is one operational aspect that can also boost your reputation. Customers who are environmentally conscious will choose your plans rather than someone else’s.
On the other hand, top industry talents might opt for your company because it aligns with their goals and values.
Sustainable data centers also have the potential to attract more investment and partnerships, further enabling their growth and innovation in green technology.
Essential Components of Sustainable Data Centers
Multiple key components are essential for sustainable data centers in the future. They all work in unison to provide flawless green data solutions. Some push for more sustainable data centers indirectly.
New technology is sometimes better and more sustainable without the need for special innovations. This is true both in terms of software and hardware. Using optimized software is just as important as using the proper hardware.
Furthermore, many companies don’t have a choice but to opt for greener alternatives. This is true in cases where governments are imposing stricter regulations and taxes on polluters. Market demand is also working in favor of greener companies.
Energy-Efficient Hardware Innovations
Hardware innovations are crucial to reducing the energy footprint of data centers. This includes the development of more efficient servers, storage solutions, and networking equipment.
When talking about hardware developments, we’re most importantly focusing on improvements that make the hardware consume less power and generate less heat.
Partnering with cloud providers like AWS offers a compelling long-term solution. AWS is committed to sustainability and is on a path to powering its operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025 as part of its ambitious goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
This focus on sustainability and implementing AWS cost optimization strategies alongside this energy-efficient infrastructure can provide even more significant savings.
This two-pronged approach – focusing on both energy-efficient hardware and AWS cost optimization strategies – ensures a sustainable data center that’s also cost-effective in the long run.
Auto-scaling is also beneficial for both lowered environmental impact and for your budget. Other scaling methods are applied through technologies such as dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS). However, instead of relying on resources, DVFS adjusts power usage based on workload, reducing unnecessary energy consumption.
An interesting example of a hardware innovation that unintentionally led to a more energy-efficient approach is the switch from Hard Disk Drives to Solid State Drives. SSDs consume less energy and have much faster data transfer speeds.
Green Infrastructure and Building Design
Renewable energy sources are generally encouraged worldwide. Clean electrical energy will significantly improve the environmental sustainability of data centers.
The design and infrastructure of data centers also play an important part in ensuring their sustainability. Choosing sustainable building materials is a foundational step in constructing eco-friendly data centers.
Materials such as recycled steel, sustainably sourced wood, and low-emission coatings and adhesives help minimize the environmental impact during the construction phase and beyond. However, the building’s layout and architectural plan must also follow an optimal design.
Furthermore, the location of the data center itself can play a large part in its sustainability. For example, hot regions will increase the need for cooling systems, increasing your costs and environmental impact.
Regulatory and Industry Standards for Sustainability
Various industry standards and regulations guide data center sustainability efforts. These include the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, the Energy Star rating for data centers, and specific local and international regulations targeting energy efficiency and ecological efforts.
LEED is one of the most important certifications in the context of green building. Like many other regulations and certificates, LEED provides a framework. This framework helps companies choose a greener building design, construction, operation, and maintenance.
Data centers aiming for LEED certification are evaluated on various criteria, including energy use, air quality, building materials, and overall environmental impact. If you achieve this certification, it’ll positively reflect your reputation.
Like LEED, Energy Star is another important US certification. Companies that get this certification have met strict energy performance standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Along with consuming less energy, such companies are less expensive to operate and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than their peers.
Financing Energy-Efficient Upgrades
Data centers looking to finance energy-efficient hardware upgrades can explore creative financing options to support their sustainability goals. Just as homeowners can leverage reverse mortgages to fund green improvements like solar panels and advanced cooling systems, data centers can consider similar innovative financial strategies.
Options such as green bonds, energy-efficiency loans, or partnerships with sustainability-focused investors can help offset the upfront costs of adopting eco-friendly infrastructure. By taking a page from residential financing solutions, data centers can align their operations with global energy-saving efforts while managing budgets effectively.
We Should Aim For a Greener Future With Sustainable Data Centers
Data centers are required to run a significant portion of the internet and are basically essential for many companies to operate. By embracing sustainable principles, we can expect a much less impact on the environment.
Furthermore, sustainable data centers often use more optimized hardware, which can be more affordable to maintain. Future data center managers and network administrators who know how to manage and set up energy-efficient hardware and infrastructure will be valued.
However, it’s important that tech companies themselves, whether they have data centers or use them, incorporate environmentally-friendly policies and practice them. Opting for a greener choice leads to numerous advantages both for the company and the environment.
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