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Sustainable IT - Data center's role in a sustainable transition

By 2030, data centers are estimated to account for about 13% of the world's electricity consumption and contribute to 8% of the world's total climate footprint. As IT suppliers we must work actively to help our customers to reduce the exponentially increasing climate impact we are facing.

On a global mission

Digital Realty offers data center services and colocation and is one of our main suppliers within operation and data storage. Sustainability isn’t news for the data center provider. Digital Realty has worked for many years to decrease their climate footprint in relation to their business model and have set Scienced Based climate targets. 

To be a future proofed data center supplier, it’s our global mission and social obligation to lower our climate impact. We believe that the data center industry, and especially the colocation industry can be a part of the solution for a sustainable transition and not the problem. However, that means that we need to take an active approach to ensure a sustainable setup for the data centers, says Pernille Hoffmann, Nordic Managing Director Digital Realty.

Digital Realty manages the data center infrastructure, which includes powering the generators and the coolers. Powering the data centers with 100% renewable energy is one of the most important activities. In addition, Digital Realty return the excessive heat generated from the data centers in Sweden directly to the district heating network through a collaboration with Stockholm Exergi. This contributes to heatingthousands of apartments in the Stockholm area.

Sharing economy 

Colocation is part of the sharing economy, an important step for a sustainable transition and circular economy. Through colocation the infrastructure and resources are shared by many customers instead of hosting their own storage environment. In addition, colocation is a secure HUB where you can connect with other partners. 

With colocation you can be much more cost and resource efficient and achieve power savings between 25-40%. That is a great example and result of the sharing and circular economy, says Pernille Hoffmann.  

 Partnership for the future

To reach our high set climate targets we need to collaborate with partners that have the same mindset for future business. Collaboration with Digital Realty is a good example of how we at Xite, part of Office Management, partner up in the transition for more sustainable IT services. 
To read more about our and Digital Realty’s sustainable transition read: 

 

Hållbarhet i kärnaffären (avoki.com)
 ESG Digital Realty

 

Important components for a sustainable data center:

  • 100% renewable energy
  • Closed colling rings – to reduce water consumption
  • Re-use of excess heat
  • Energy-efficient data center design
  • Compliance with international sustainability standards, such as ESG,
  • Science based target, Climate Neutral Data Center Pact (CNDCP)