Green Data Centres: Navigating the Sustainable Digital Horizon
In an era defined by expanding digital footprints, the imperative for sustainable solutions has become undeniable. Welcome to the transformative realm of Green Data Centres – an innovative approach not only enhancing data management efficiency but also steering us towards a more sustainable future.
Beyond Energy Efficiency: The Green Data Centre Advantage
Green Data Centres are rewriting the rulebook by prioritising energy efficiency. These environmentally conscious hubs harness cutting-edge technologies to optimise energy consumption, thereby reducing the carbon footprint associated with traditional data centres. Innovations like advanced cooling systems and energy-efficient hardware are driving the evolution towards a more sustainable IT infrastructure.
Navigating Net Zero: Australian Government's Action Plan
In a significant move, the Australian Government unveiled its action plan to achieve net-zero operations by 2030. This has far-reaching implications for technology leaders, particularly in the selection of data centre partners for mission-critical digital infrastructure.
Key Points from The Roadmap to Net Zero for Digital Operations and Government:
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By July 2025, all new data centre facilities must achieve and maintain a 5-star NABERS Energy for Data Centres rating or an equivalent environmental rating, such as Power Usage Effectiveness (PuE) of 1.4 or less.
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Existing data centres must obtain the minimum rating as well. If the facility
cannot be improved to meet the 5-star rating, it should optimise energy efficiency in a setup and operation. - The government's Net Zero in Government Operations Strategy will incorporate circular economy principles into procurement, promoting refurbishment, repair, reuse, and recycling, including ICT equipment. With rapid ICT innovation, the policy aims to publish an Environmentally Sustainable Procurement policy by 2025.
Data Centres and ICT Arrangements
In May 2023, the Australian Government established a new Data Centre Panel with enhanced measures for providers to manage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Future panels will integrate net zero goals to help entities track and minimize emissions from ICT usage.
To be included on the new Data Centre Panel, all providers must possess a 5-star NABERS Energy for Data Centres rating or an equivalent environmental rating, such as a Power Usage Effectiveness of 1.4 or lower.
Crucial Considerations for Choosing a Sustainable and Green Data Centre
As sustainability becomes a paramount concern, asking the right questions ensures that your data centre aligns with eco-friendly practices. Explore the key considerations below to not only meet your technical needs but also contribute to a greener, more responsible digital future.
1. Zero Waste Initiatives
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What waste diversion programs are in place to minimise environmental impact?
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How is e-waste and paper waste managed, and what are the diversion strategies?
2. Water Efficiency
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What water management practices are implemented to ensure efficiency and conservation?
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Is there a commitment to reusing, recycling, or recovering water within the facility?
3. Sustainable Materials and Construction
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Which certifications and standards, such as Uptime Institute, ISO 14001, Climate Active, and NABERS, validate the sustainability practices of the data centre?
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How does the design of the facility address energy efficiency, environmental impact, and overall operational sustainability?
4. Power PUE
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What is the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) rating of the data centre, and how is it optimised for energy efficiency?
5. Community Engagement and Social Responsibility
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How does the organisation engage with and contribute to the local community?
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Are there initiatives or projects supporting environmental causes or community well-being?
6. Employee Sustainability Awareness:
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What initiatives are in place to foster a culture of sustainability among your data centre staff?
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Can you provide details on the training and awareness programs aimed at encouraging responsible resource usage, waste reduction, and energy conservation?
7. Continuous Monitoring and Improvement:
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How do you monitor environmental performance metrics within the data centre?
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Could you share insights into your process of regularly assessing and improving sustainability initiatives based on real-time data and industry best practices?
Leading the Way to Net-Zero 2030 Vision
For those committed to the net-zero 2030 vision, NEXTDC stands as a beacon of sustainability. In summary, here are the seven strategic programs in which NEXTDC is championing sustainability:
5-star NABERS Energy for Data Centres rating
NEXTDC were proud to be the first Australian data centre provider to achieve a 5-star rating for M1 (Melbourne) in 2019. Since then, we have also achieved the 5-star rating for S1 (Sydney).Australia’s only TRUE certified data centre
The TRUE certification is the leading, independent global program dedicated to measuring, improving and recognising zero waste performance. Our S1 Sydney Data Centre recently became the first (and currently, only) TRUE certified data centre in Australia.Rigorous waste diversion programs:
In addition to the TRUE certification we’ve achieved at S1, we’re also focused on waste diversion across all our facilities. In particular, we have dedicated programs for the secure and ethical handling of electronic waste and paper waste.Renewable energy initiatives:
You can’t call yourself a truly sustainable data centre unless you prioritise the sourcing and generation of renewable energy, including rooftop solar installations. In addition to existing solar panels at our M1 facility, we recently switched on new solar arrays at S1 and M3. Additionally, rooftop installations at our Sunshine Coast and Perth data centres will soon be switched on.100% carbon neutral in our corporate operations:
Demonstrating our own commitment to achieving net zero status across our full value chain by 2030, our corporate operations have maintained 100% carbon neutral accreditation under the Climate Active scheme for the past few years.
The Climate Active scheme is administered by the Australian Federal Government and focuses on reducing carbon emissions where possible, and offsetting them where it’s not. We have a long-term strategic partnership with Qantas Future Planet to help offset our carbon emissions.
NEXTneutral carbon offsetting scheme:
NEXTneutral is our carbon neutral colocation solution, designed to make achieving carbon neutrality easy for our customers by pre-calculating the carbon emissions produced in a standard data centre rack and procuring the necessary carbon offsets on their behalf.
Since its launch in 2021, more and more NEXTDC customers have been opting in to NEXTneutral with the touch of a button through our ONEDC centralised management tool. Last year we were proud to report a 40% increase in customers utilising NEXTneutral to help meet their sustainability targets.
Renewable energy initiatives:
You can’t call yourself a truly sustainable data centre unless you prioritise the sourcing and generation of renewable energy, including rooftop solar installations. In addition to existing solar panels at our M1 facility, we recently switched on new solar arrays at S1 and M3. Additionally, rooftop installations at our Sunshine Coast and Perth data centres will soon be switched on.
NEXTDC stands out for sustainability through various certifications and practices:
NABERS and TRUE Certification: Pioneering Sustainability
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Holding 5-star NABERS Energy ratings for Sydney (S1) and Melbourne (M1) facilities.
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The first TRUE certified data centre in Australia.
ISO 14001:2015 Certification Across All Facilities
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Achieved ISO 14001:2015 certification for environmental management in all NEXTDC facilities.
Uptime Institute Certifications: Ensuring Operational Excellence
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Certified to Tier III and Tier IV standards for Design Documents, Built Environments, and Gold Operational Sustainability.
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Attests to exceptional security measures, operational processes, engineering expertise, and energy efficiency.
Carbon Neutral Corporate Operations
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NEXTDC is the first data centre in Australia with 100% carbon-neutral corporate operations.
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Certified under the Australian Government's Climate Active program.
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Our NEXTneutral carbon-neutral colocation solution has been independently verified by Climate Active.
Sustainable Design Considerations
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From optimizing natural lighting and ventilation to using eco-friendly, recyclable materials, sustainability is ingrained in the design of our facilities.
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