7 Best Sustainable Practices for Data Centers and Tech Companies

Information technology (IT) advancements have revolutionized nearly every aspect of life. But the trade-off of this advancement is a planet reeling from climate change. The data centers that power the internet consume high amounts of energy, a lot of which comes from fossil fuels. 

Even the production of IT equipment like servers, laptops, and peripherals results in greenhouse gas emissions, harming the planet. A recent report by the United Nations has rung alarm bells on rising temperatures, warning that by 2030 climate disasters will become increasingly extreme. It goes without saying that time is of the essence, and taking action immediately is necessary. 

So what can IT enterprises, especially those running power-hungry data centers, do to be more sustainable and reduce carbon emissions? There are both small and big steps that can collectively help reduce emissions. 

A Glance at the Technology Sector’s Carbon Emissions

While the IT sector isn’t the only one responsible for carbon emissions, it’s one of the major contributors. For instance, data centers worldwide consumed 220 to 320 TWh (0.9 to 1.3 percent of global electricity) in 2021, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). 

The tech sector is responsible for two to three percent of greenhouse gas emissions globally. That may sound like a small number, but it isn’t. With internet penetration and data consumption increasing, this number can increase if companies don’t take appropriate action. 

Even though major tech companies worldwide have taken actions to curb their emissions and adopt more sustainable solutions to their energy needs, the progress has been mixed. Some companies like Accenture and Vodafone have made impressive progress in reducing their carbon footprint since 2017. However, others have seen an increase in their greenhouse gas emissions. 

While companies have been able to make a difference for their Scope 1 and 2 emissions, there’s much more work required for Scope 3 (those emissions produced by the company’s wider value chain, like its suppliers). 

7 Best Sustainable Practices for IT 

There are practical ways IT teams and organizations can reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to the global effort to contain climate catastrophes.

Advancement and success at the expense of the planet aren’t going to last long. So it’s imperative to take a step back, analyze where things are going wrong, and fix them before it’s too late. 

Here are some of the best sustainable practices for data centers, telecommunication companies, or any other tech business. 

Track Energy Usage

To implement any change in your energy usage, you first need to know exactly how much energy your infrastructure consumes. And this needs to be an ongoing process, so you know when energy consumption crosses any set thresholds. 

This isn’t only good for devising an energy-saving scheme and reducing costs, as higher power usage would result in higher operational costs. 

You should track energy consumption for all resources, as that can help you identify those that are using too much of it. 

Use Cooling No More Than Required

Data centers with servers and storage use HVAC systems for cooling, but more often than not, the use of HVAC exceeds requirements. Modern servers can work efficiently at a certain temperature range; an environment cooler operating at lower temperatures above what is required isn’t going to make the servers more efficient. So all of that energy for unnecessary cooling is going to waste. 

You should calculate the optimal temperature range for your data center’s servers and other equipment and ensure that the HVAC system maintains this particular range. 

Reduce Bypass Airflow 

Cooling consumes nearly half the energy data centers use. Optimizing the airflow is one way to ensure no energy wastage with cooling. And the airflow can be optimized by reducing bypass airflow (air that returns to the unit without removing heat).

A higher bypass airflow results in higher usage of energy, higher costs, and uneven cooling distribution that risks equipment damage. 

Blanking panels can help reduce bypass airflow, which, in turn, decreases energy consumption. 

Opt for Energy-Efficient Equipment

One of the best ways to tackle energy wastage is to invest in servers and storage that are designed to consume less energy. 

Energy efficiency has become a sought-after quality for modern IT equipment, and manufacturers realize that. Even refreshing smaller devices like switches and routers to models that consume less energy can make a big difference. 

If you want to refresh your assets to more energy-efficient ones without spending too much, consider procuring your next hardware needs with PivIT. You can save money on high-quality equipment from major OEMs, making the move to newer equipment more economical. 

Sell or Donate Working Legacy Equipment

The tech industry is also responsible for greenhouse gas emissions through IT waste. It’s important to ensure that equipment is utilized as long as it’s functional and doesn’t end up in landfills prematurely. 

Once you’ve decided to refresh your equipment, the best thing you can do for your old devices is to sell or donate them. If a piece of equipment still has some life left, it’s best to pass it forward so someone else can continue to benefit from it. 

PivIT offers a buyback program for legacy servers that makes disposing of your old equipment hassle-free and turns it into savings for capital expenditure. 

Invest in Renewable Energy

Moving to renewable energy is a surefire way to reduce your organization’s carbon emissions. Wind, solar, and hydroelectric energy sources are cleaner alternatives to fossil fuel-generated energy. Here are some ways you can adopt clean energy:

• Establish your data center where utility providers guarantee a clean energy supply.
• Use colocation facilities powered by renewable energy.
• Invest independently in renewable energy for your data centers and offices (for example, using solar panels).
• Consult with green energy professionals to find ways to reduce consumption and switch to cleaner energy resources.

Work with Companies That Take Sustainability Seriously

Big IT enterprises working with multiple vendors and partners struggle to reduce their Scope 3 emissions. That’s because tracking emissions for third parties is incredibly difficult, and with the rise of greenwashing, it’s become even harder. 

To ensure that you’re developing an ecosystem of companies that share your values of sustainability, you need to prioritize sustainability when selecting vendors. Whether you’re buying equipment or software, take the time to investigate the company and speak to them directly about their take on reducing carbon emissions. 

Such actions will help your company with its emission goals and drive others in the industry to take climate action seriously if they want to stay competitive. 

Take Action Now!

Climate change is an emergency, and the time to make the change is now. And you know how they say, change begins from within. As contributors to rising temperatures, tech companies with massive data centers need to strategize and find ways to shift to cleaner energy while reducing consumption. 

Upgrading to energy-efficient equipment, recycling older equipment, and monitoring energy use are some of the ways that can make a big difference.