How to Achieve Sustainability in Your Data Center Through Partnering

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Gento

It’s no secret that the data center industry is experiencing unprecedented growth and expansion. Everywhere we look, we see announcements for new 125, 275, and 525-megawatt data centers popping up worldwide at an unprecedented rate. 

However, recent headlines from newspapers have underscored a pressing issue. They illuminate the social and environmental repercussions of this rapid data center construction boom, mainly drawing attention to energy consumption, water usage, and electronic waste concerns. These concerns about sustainability and the unforeseen consequences are not to be taken lightly. 

“Plans for Massive Data Center Linked to Nuclear Power Spark Debate…” — CT Examiner 

“Now, what the heck do we do about data centers?” — Virginia Mercury 

“A New Surge in Power Use is Threatening U.S. Climate Goals” — New York Times 

It’s concerning to see articles highlighting the potential negative impact of the construction and expansion of data centers on the environment. 

The rapid growth of the data center industry is not just a challenge but a unique opportunity to positively impact the world. As we expand and build new data centers, we have the power to shape a more sustainable future. By embracing sustainability objectives such as using renewable energy sources, implementing water recycling systems, reducing PUE, and adopting a circular economy by reusing and recycling electronic components, we can significantly contribute to creating a better world. 

Achieving these ambitious sustainability goals is a collective endeavor, and your role in selecting technology partners is pivotal. Our partners must comprehend their role in our sustainability initiatives and collaborate with us to meet our corporate and regulatory sustainability goals. Your decisions hold the power to make a substantial impact on our journey towards sustainability. 

Evaluating vendors can be complex, but with the right knowledge and tools, you can make informed decisions. A few key considerations can help you determine whether a vendor is a suitable partner in your efforts to make your data centers more sustainable. Your expertise and discernment are crucial in this process. 

Look for vendors with a strong sustainability track record who have implemented sustainable practices. 

Evaluate the vendor’s technology and assess whether it aligns with your sustainability goals. 

Investigate their policies surrounding energy efficiency, carbon emissions, and waste management. 

Finally, consider the vendor’s commitment to ongoing sustainability improvements and willingness to work with you to meet yours 

By considering these factors, you can find vendors that share your sustainability values and are likely to become trusted partners in your journey toward a more sustainable future. 

At Legrand, we are committed to helping our customers achieve their sustainability goals. Raritan/Sever Technology helps our customers monitor and control their power consumption with smart PDUs, making it an environmentally friendly solution that allows data centers to achieve their sustainability objectives. 

We understand that sustainability is a critical concern for everyone, and we empathize with data center providers’ challenges in meeting their sustainability objectives. We’re just scratching the surface in this post. 

To learn more and gain the confidence to make informed decisions, head over and register for our upcoming webinar, Recipes to a Sustainable AI Data Center. We will provide new market data from Omdia, application use cases, and readily available products and services that can help address sustainability concerns and objectives you are facing.  

Webinar Registration – https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4582618/55594C3B4C75A6E46D18632AC516FC3D?partnerref=EXTLegrandblog