What does this mean for data centers? Incorporating sustainability and energy efficiency into the design is more important than ever.
To promote facility sustainability, the design requires several key technological elements, including the use of renewable energy and more efficient cooling methods. Beyond these critical considerations, the design and construction of a sustainable data center begins long before any materials are ordered at the site selection stage.
Most people take an outside-in approach, assessing potential sites by observing how the environment will affect their center. Implementing sustainable practices requires a shift in thinking, focusing instead on how the facility will impact the environment. Record-breaking droughts, coupled with peak water consumption of nearly 1.7 billion liters per day for US data centers, have sparked strong public protests, as seen in Mesa, Arizona. In this regard, good data center design should consider:
1. Based on site conditions, what form of renewable energy is most feasible?
2. How can water use be better managed, especially in drought-prone areas?
3. Can the data center design take full advantage of the natural weather conditions of the selected location?
4. What types of building materials are available near the chosen construction site to minimize the need for travel/transportation of materials?
Given the built environment, what additional design considerations should be taken into account to save energy? (e.g., thicker insulation, better utilization of ambient air for cooling, and directional placement of the data center itself to benefit from natural breezes or sunlight, especially considerations for the use of renewable energy.)
Don’t rule out design innovation either. Design elements such as outdoor landscaping using native plants and artificial turf can reduce water consumption while providing employees with a beautiful outdoor space. Simplicity and clarity—sustainability is, and should be, a driving force in modern data center design.
Planning Experience
The technical requirements surrounding data center construction are unavoidable. Meeting capacity and power demands while incorporating sustainable practices is crucial for the facility. However, this shouldn’t be the end of the story. Once the racks and servers are in place, and the data center walls are ready to be built, there’s an opportunity to elevate the design by incorporating a “human” element into the design process.
As mentioned earlier, data center design has historically been function-based, with little consideration for aesthetics. However, designing to meet technical needs and designing for aesthetics are not necessarily mutually exclusive concepts. The increase in remote work may mean we are further removed from physical environments, but this actually increases the demand for activities such as visits to physical facilities. With most of everyone spending time online, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of competitors focused on replicating the technical specifications of their facilities. To truly stand out, there must be a physical space that invites visitors in and provides a resonant experience after they leave.