Demand from AI, hyperscalers and cloud computing platforms, continues to drive significant demand for data centers. Yet for owners and operators, achieving this build out is increasingly constrained by growing environmental pressures.
While operational carbon from electricity use has previously dominated emissions, the decarbonization of the grid is shifting focus to embodied carbon, the emissions from materials and construction throughout a data center's lifecycle. With MEP systems contributing up to 88% of embodied carbon, measuring it is essential. Without quantifying, there’s no path to accountability or meaningful reduction in whole life carbon.
One way to address whole life carbon emissions, is for the data center to adopt circular economy principles to facilities design, development, operation and refurbishment. As data center clients grow their footprint, it’s vital to find a way to increase operational sustainability in new and existing facilities.
Embracing circularity offers a solution. By identifying carbon hotspots, prioritizing efficient MEP design, designing for long-term adaptability and reuse, optimizing material use through prefabrication, and sourcing low-carbon, biobased materials, data centers can significantly lower their environmental impacts.
We have developed a four-pillar circularity framework that rethinks how facilities are built, used, and resourced. It emphasises the value and potential of retrofit, extends long-term adaptability, drives up material efficiency, and prioritize low-carbon sourcing of materials and technology.
This is a new approach, built on proven design principles. We want to collaborate with clients and partners who are ready to pilot these strategies – and set new benchmarks for sustainable digital infrastructure.
