As 2023 has progressed, the global push for sustainability and eco-conscious decisions remains strong. This is particularly evident for data centers, where green building practices have continued to evolve, pushing the boundaries that were once limitations. Along with the new, there are ‘re’-newed practices that are helping us pave the way towards a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly future for data centers.
Carbon-Neutral Materials: Development and utilization of carbon-neutral materials, like engineered wood products, recycled steel, and eco-friendly concrete alternatives, are becoming increasingly popular and the norm for many designers and builders. Although not seen much in data centers, engineered wood is not only more sustainable but also highly versatile and strong, making it a preferred choice for many architects and builders, which aids in gaining traction for possible build alternatives for portions of a data center. Innovations in materials science have led to the creation of carbon-negative building materials as well, which absorb more carbon dioxide than they emit during their production and lifecycle.
Smart Building Technology: Always a favorite yet sometimes feared, the integration of smart building technology is transforming the way we interact with how the data center behaves. Smarter facilities use sensors, and data analytics to optimize energy use, indoor air quality, and therefore overall sustainability – with more trust of automation being earned slowly. These technologies have become more affordable and accessible, making it easier for data center operators to reduce their energy and environmental footprint. As more cooling systems adapt to occupancy and weather conditions in a more cohesive, predictable, and reliable manner, the better the results on energy and operating costs.
Net-Zero Energy Buildings: Net-zero has gained momentum as a central goal for all green buildings in all sectors; data centers are not excluded. The facilities are designed to offset as much energy as they can, with other energy offsets (PPAs, RECs, etc.) being used to balance what is consumed. The facility itself is being efficient as it can through a combination of energy-focused design and on-site renewable energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines when possible. While architects and engineers are working to design building envelopes suitable for data centers, local governments and organizations are being educated on how that meets their codes as well as how they can reach incentives normally targeting commercial or other building construction.
Water-Efficient Technologies: Water scarcity is continuous concern, and green building advances are addressing this issue through innovative water-efficient technologies that are now being applied to data centers. Rainwater harvesting systems, evaporative water recapture, wastewater treatment and recycling technologies are being incorporated into building designs. These measures not only reduce water consumption but also help to manage stormwater and protect local water resources.
Biophilic Design: Although popular, biophilic design (bringing nature into the built environment) for a data center has yet to reach the same level as other industries. This design approach has continued to gain popularity, as architects recognize the positive impact of nature our human well-being and looking to incorporate this into such large facilities in different ways. This might be to help with exterior perception, but also with the actual people-occupied spaces. Green advances using biophilic design include incorporating more natural light, specifying natural materials, and creating green spaces that connect people with nature. These designs improve productivity, reduce stress, and enhance the overall quality of life for building occupants, even if there are not many or occupying the spaces for short durations.
Adaptive Reuse and Deconstruction: Green data centers are not just about new construction, but also about adaptive reuse and deconstruction. Reusing existing structures and materials has reduced the environmental impact of construction and can preserve cultural and historical resources. Deconstruction, the careful dismantling of buildings to salvage materials, is becoming a viable alternative to demolition. Preservation was proposed on several ‘historic’ sites, such as the past AOL headquarters in Virginia, but instead pivoted to deconstruct to make way for facilities that would operate much more efficiently.
Architects, engineers, builders, and environmentalists are working collaboratively to create sustainable, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly data centers that far exceed the same goals set to commercial, residential, or other industrial buildings. Data centers are more open to the advancements in green building and are contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future, such as supporting the AI that might help with the design of the next generation of buildings everywhere.
