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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What waste diversion programs are in place to minimise environmental impact?
How is e-waste and paper waste managed, and what are the diversion strategies?
What water management practices are implemented to ensure efficiency and conservation?
Is there a commitment to reusing, recycling, or recovering water within the facility?
Which certifications and standards, such as Uptime Institute, ISO 14001, Climate Active, and NABERS, validate the sustainability practices of the data centre?
How does the design of the facility address energy efficiency, environmental impact, and overall operational sustainability?
What is the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) rating of the data centre, and how is it optimised for energy efficiency?
How does the organisation engage with and contribute to the local community?
Are there initiatives or projects supporting environmental causes or community well-being?
What initiatives are in place to foster a culture of sustainability among your data centre staff?
Can you provide details on the training and awareness programs aimed at encouraging responsible resource usage, waste reduction, and energy conservation?
How do you monitor environmental performance metrics within the data centre?
Could you share insights into your process of regularly assessing and improving sustainability initiatives based on real-time data and industry best practices?
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:
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 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.
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.
Holding 5-star NABERS Energy ratings for Sydney (S1) and Melbourne (M1) facilities.
The first TRUE certified data centre in Australia.
Achieved ISO 14001:2015 certification for environmental management in all NEXTDC facilities.
Certified to Tier III and Tier IV standards for Design Documents, Built Environments, and Gold Operational Sustainability.
Attests to exceptional security measures, operational processes, engineering expertise, and energy efficiency.
NEXTDC is the first data centre in Australia with 100% carbon-neutral corporate operations.
Certified under the Australian Government's Climate Active program.
Our NEXTneutral carbon-neutral colocation solution has been independently verified by Climate Active.
From optimizing natural lighting and ventilation to using eco-friendly, recyclable materials, sustainability is ingrained in the design of our facilities.