Data centers often store and/or process high volumes of data. This means they generally need high levels of resources with which to do so. With that in mind, here is a look at the environmental impact of Chicago data centers and their sustainability practices.
Here is an overview of the five main ways that data centers can have a negative impact on the environment.
Energy consumption: Data centers require massive amounts of electricity to run servers, storage systems, and cooling equipment. Traditionally, much of this electricity has come from fossil fuels. This has made data centers responsible for a significant share of global CO₂ emissions.
Water usage: The use of water-based cooling systems can stress local water supplies. This is especially problematic in areas where water resources are already limited.
Heat generation: The vast amount of heat produced by running equipment must be managed, often by energy-intensive cooling systems. This creates a feedback loop of more energy use and, subsequently, more emissions.
Electronic waste: Hardware in data centers—such as servers and networking equipment—has a limited lifespan. Disposal of outdated or broken components contributes to electronic waste, which can be toxic if not properly managed.
Land use and habitat disruption: Building large-scale data centers requires significant land. Construction and operation can lead to habitat destruction and local ecosystem disruption, particularly in previously undeveloped areas.
Green data centers are data centers that prioritize sustainability. Here is an overview of 10 common sustainability practices they implement.
Green building: Over recent years, there has been more emphasis on building data centers that put sustainability front and center literally from the blueprint stage. Older data centers are upgraded as much as possible to improve sustainability. This can be as simple as swapping out traditional light bulbs for more energy-efficient LED light bulbs.
Efficient cooling systems: Instead of traditional air conditioning and/or water-based cooling, green data centers use advanced cooling technologies. Popular approaches include liquid cooling, free-air cooling, and hot aisle/cold aisle containment. These methods reduce energy consumption used for temperature regulation.
Energy-efficient hardware: Using servers, storage, and networking equipment designed for high efficiency helps reduce power usage. Energy-efficient components generate less heat, decreasing the need for intensive cooling.
Renewable energy use: Green data centers prioritize electricity from renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydropower. This helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lowers carbon emissions significantly.5
Virtualization and cloud computing: These technologies allow multiple applications to run on a single server, maximizing hardware utilization and minimizing physical equipment needs, which in turn reduces energy and space requirements.
Waste heat reuse: Some green data centers capture and repurpose waste heat to warm nearby buildings or water systems, increasing overall energy efficiency.
Water conservation: Data centers adopt closed-loop water cooling systems or air-cooled alternatives to minimize water use, helping preserve local water resources.
E-waste recycling and responsible procurement: Green data centers manage electronic waste by recycling outdated equipment and sourcing hardware from manufacturers that follow sustainable practices.
Smart energy management: Monitoring tools optimize power distribution and track energy consumption in real-time, enabling data centers to make data-driven adjustments that enhance sustainability.
Green work processes: In addition to updating the infrastructure and technology used in data centers, work processes should be developed with sustainability in mind. For example, if data centers can be reasonably accessed by public transport, staff should be encouraged to use it. When this is not possible, staff should be encouraged to carpool.
Chicago data centers actively work to ensure maximum energy efficiency. Here are just five of the most important energy-efficiency measures in Chicago data centers.
Free-air cooling: Chicago’s cold winters and moderate shoulder seasons allow data centers to use free-air or economizer cooling systems for much of the year. This reduces reliance on mechanical cooling, significantly cutting energy use.
Energy-efficient building design: Many facilities in Chicago are constructed or retrofitted with energy-efficient insulation, LED lighting, and motion-sensor controls to reduce lighting and HVAC loads, especially important during extreme seasonal temperatures.
Hot aisle/cold aisle containment: This airflow management technique separates hot and cold air streams, improving cooling efficiency. Given Chicago’s variable climate, maintaining proper airflow is essential to reduce the load on cooling systems year-round.
Use of grid-supplied renewable energy: Chicago has access to regional renewable energy sources through the PJM Interconnection grid. Data centers in the area increasingly purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) or participate in local green power programs to reduce their carbon footprint.
Advanced power management systems: Chicago data centers use intelligent power distribution units (PDUs) and data center infrastructure management (DCIM) software to monitor and optimize energy use in real time. These tools identify inefficiencies, adjust loads dynamically, and help maintain power usage effectiveness (PUE) targets even during variable seasonal energy demands.
The main benefits of colocation in Chicago are cost-effectiveness, scalability, and flexibility. The main consideration is resilience. Here is a closer look at each of these points as they apply to colocation in Chicago.
If you’re looking to implement a Chicago data center, evaluating the vendor is at least as important as evaluating the data center facility. It really is fair to say that a data center facility is only as good as the vendor that manages it.
Get a closer look at the data centers in DataBank’s Chicago metro market.
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