The growth in hybrid IT infrastructure has increased the demand for data center infrastructure. For this demand to be met sustainably, data center operators need to make sustainable practices core to their operations. In particular, they need to focus on developing regenerative data centers that prioritize environmental conservation. Here is a quick guide to what you need to know.
Data centers are the foundation of hybrid IT infrastructure. On-premises and/or colocation data centers provide a private environment over which clients have full control. Public cloud data centers provide dynamic scalability, customizability, and global reach. Edge data centers provide fast, localized processing. In short, without data centers, hybrid IT infrastructure literally could not function.
Traditional data centers are notoriously inefficient in their use of energy, water, and physical resources.
Energy: Traditional data centers use vast amounts of electricity to power their infrastructure, particularly their cooling systems. These were highly inefficient. Furthermore, most, if not all, of the energy used was derived from fossil fuels.
Water: Traditional cooling systems were not just energy-inefficient but also water-inefficient. This created serious environmental issues, especially in areas where water was already in short supply.
Physical resources: The manufacturing process of hardware components requires the extraction of raw materials. This extraction was not always performed in a sensitive and sustainable manner. Moreover, frequent hardware upgrades generated a significant amount of electronic waste.
Regenerative data centers take their name from the fact that they aim to have a net positive impact on the environment. In other words, they aim to go beyond basic sustainability practices and address broader ecological concerns.
With that said the core of regenerative data centers is the integration of sustainability measures into the fabric of data center operations. This requires a holistic approach that incorporates advanced technologies, renewable energy sources, and circular economy principles.
Here is an overview of the five key sustainability practices implemented as standard in regenerative data centers.
This includes the use of high-efficiency servers, advanced cooling systems, and intelligent workload management. Server virtualization, for example, enables the consolidation of multiple virtual servers onto a single physical machine. It therefore reduces the overall energy consumption of the data center.
Regenerative data centers prioritize the use of solar, wind, hydro, and other sustainable energy options to power their operations. This minimizes the data center’s overall carbon footprint.
Dynamic power management adjusts the power consumption of servers based on workload demands. Intelligent cooling systems adapt to environmental conditions. These sustainable practices minimize regenerative data centers’ use of energy. They hence improve both sustainability and operating costs.
Real-time tracking of energy consumption, carbon emissions, and other environmental metrics allows data center operators to identify areas for improvement and fine-tune operations. This data-driven approach is essential for maintaining transparency and accountability in the pursuit of sustainable practices.
This involves designing infrastructure and hardware with a focus on durability, reparability, and recyclability. The lifecycle of components is carefully managed, emphasizing reuse and recycling to minimize electronic waste. This circular approach reduces the environmental impact associated with the production and disposal of data center hardware.
Transitioning to regenerative data centers that focus on sustainable practices is essential for the long-term future of data centers. There are, however, some immediate challenges that need to be addressed for this to happen. Here is an overview of the four main ones.
To address this challenge, organizations can explore financial incentives and government subsidies for adopting green technologies. Additionally, phased implementation strategies, where sustainable practices are gradually integrated, allow for cost distribution over time, making the transition more financially feasible.
To overcome this challenge, a phased approach to modernization can be employed. This involves upgrading or replacing outdated components with energy-efficient alternatives while ensuring compatibility with existing systems. Virtualization technologies can play a crucial role in optimizing resource usage and extending the lifespan of legacy hardware.
Addressing this challenge requires careful planning and collaboration between IT teams, sustainability experts, and data center operators. Implementing automation and orchestration tools can simplify the deployment and management of regenerative technologies, streamlining complex processes and ensuring a smoother transition.
To mitigate this, regenerative data centers can implement energy storage solutions such as advanced battery systems. These batteries store excess energy generated during peak times and release it during low production periods, ensuring a consistent and reliable power supply regardless of intermittent renewable energy availability.
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