Industry Insights on Setting, Measuring, and Achieving Sustainable Goals in the Era of Data Centre Expansion.
As data centres experience a surge in growth, sustainability emerges as a central concern, prompting operators to adopt measurable practices aligned with global standards. Amid projections of an 11% increase in data centre systems spending in 2022, sustainability becomes a focal point for private and co-located data centres, driven by standards such as ISO 14001 and ISO 50001.
Sustainability Takes Centre Stage
Despite the dominance of hyperscale clouds, Gartner foresees a robust 11% growth in data centre systems spending in 2022, making it the fastest-growing segment in IT infrastructure. The expansion is attributed to the sustained demand for private and co-located data centres. Notably, sustainability is becoming a cornerstone of growth, with cloud and co-location providers prioritising eco-friendly practices.
Setting Measurable Goals
In a bid to embrace sustainability, data centre operators are urged to establish clear, measurable goals. Guided by standards like ISO 14001 and ISO 50001, companies focus on metrics encompassing power consumption, energy efficiency, water usage, greenhouse gas emissions, materials recycling, and carbon credits. The adoption of standards serves as a roadmap for operators, fostering continuous improvement and a tangible commitment to stakeholders.
Hyperscalers Lead the Way
Major cloud vendors, often referred to as hyperscalers, have set ambitious sustainability benchmarks that set a precedent for the industry. Facebook aims for net-zero emissions by 2030, Google commits to zero waste to landfill in the same timeframe, and Microsoft pledges carbon negativity by 2030, with a goal to remove all emitted carbon since 1975 by 2050. While these objectives may be lofty for average data centres, they provide a template for developing realistic, relevant sustainability programmes.
Demystifying ISO Sustainability Standards
The article series proposes a set of metrics and mechanisms to evaluate and report on progress toward sustainability goals. It seeks to demystify crucial ISO sustainability standards such as ISO 50001, ISO 9001, ISO 30134, ISO 14064, and ISO 14001. Data centre operators are encouraged to use these standards, along with their frameworks and management systems, to establish baseline metrics and demonstrate compliance with environmental, social, and corporate governance goals.
Metrics for Progress
The heart of sustainability efforts lies in measurement. The article series advocates for a set of metrics and mechanisms applicable to any data centre. It outlines a path for data centre operators to evaluate and report their progress towards sustainability goals. Beyond compliance, these metrics provide a foundation for companies to track their environmental, social, and corporate governance achievements.
As the data centre landscape evolves, the article series serves as a guide for operators to navigate the green wave, offering insights into setting, measuring, and achieving sustainability goals.
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