Authors:
Dina Nassar, University of East London, London, U.K.
Rabih Bashroush, University of East London, London, U.K.
Originally posted on IEEE Computer Society Digital Library
Abstract
The escalating demand for data and computational power has led to the rapid expansion of data centres, significantly increasing their environmental footprint. Data centres now account for an estimated 2% to 4% of global electricity consumption. Although various best practices and key performance indicators (KPIs) have been developed to mitigate this impact, creating a comprehensive framework for evaluating the environmental sustainability of data centres remains challenging. Existing certification schemes, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), were originally designed for traditional building infrastructure and are increasingly applied to data centres. However, these frameworks primarily focus on building-related aspects, inadequately addressing the unique mechanical, electrical, and IT dimensions critical to data centres. This study introduces a comprehensive evaluation model applied to the LEED framework, identifying significant gaps and proposing enhancements. The findings highlight notable discrepancies and limitations within the current LEED version, emphasising the need for tailored approaches that accurately reflect the distinct characteristics and operational demands of data centres.
Introduction
Climate change is undeniably one of the most pressing challenges facing the world today, primarily due to escalating greenhouse gas emissions. The onset of the industrial revolution saw a significant increase in human contributions to climate change. Global GHG emissions have continued to rise consistently for the past decade, reaching 53.8 Gt CO2 eq in 2022 [1]. As the emissions continue to soar, addressing environmental sustainability has emerged as a paramount concern. In response to this global predicament, various agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, have been established to tackle the issue. Governments around the world are striving to achieve net zero ambitions by the end of the decade. However, this pursuit poses a formidable challenge for numerous sectors, including the digital infrastructure industry.
In our modern era, our lives have become inseparable from digital services, with information and communication technologies playing an increasingly vital role in the daily lives of individuals and businesses. Global internet traffic volume increased by 30% between 2018 and 2022 [2]. Consequently, IT companies and data centres have emerged as central players in amplifying the adverse effects of human-induced climate change.
Data centres are critical facilities that are responsible for housing and processing large amounts of digital data. They are essential components of modern computing infrastructure, providing the necessary computational resources to support a variety of applications and services [3].
Alarmingly, energy consumption in data centres has experienced a marked surge, primarily driven by increasing demand and AI. In the European Union (EU), for instance, data centres consumed a staggering 124 TWh of energy in 2018 [4], with projections indicating a 28% surge by 2030 [5], potentially accounting for about 3.2% of the EU’s total electricity demand [6].
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