Are Data Centers bad for the Environment?

Data centers are concentrated locations hosting banks and banks of servers and networking gear that process mountains of information and on any given day, tens of millions of servers in the over 7.2 million data centers around the world are running applications for a range of customers around the globe. The energy data centers consume continues to accelerate as billions of devices continue to join the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence gains demand, and other applications like blockchain-powered cryptocurrency evolve.

While the creation of enormous data centers has benefited corporations, the world economy, and the daily lives of billions of people, it is taking a heavy toll on the environment. The millions of servers and cooling systems that remove the enormous quantity of heat produced by computers require immense amounts of electricity. In certain instances, the outdated air-cooling systems in data centers consume up to half as much electricity as the servers do. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the production of electricity produces the second-largest proportion of greenhouse gas emissions, with around 62% of the world's electricity originating from burning fossil fuels, primarily coal and natural gas. Batteries, which require the mining of heavy metals like lead, are also extensively used in these facilities. Electronic trash and diesel engines are two other prominent sources of pollution in data centers. As with the more central concerns of powering servers and cooling systems, the severity of these environmental problems depends on how efficiently the data center runs.

IT powerhouses like Facebook and Google employ sophisticated cooling techniques and software to reduce power waste. In comparison to its older facilities, eBay's 245,000 square foot data center in Delta is 50% more cost-effective to operate and 30% more capable. Additionally, the data warehouse uses a 400,000 gallon water tank to collect rainfall, which keeps the structure cool without using any additional power. Apple is constructing a research and development facility that will be surrounded by layers of greenery and trees and will be powered by its own energy center. The future of data centers will certainly focus on greener ways of doing business but the fundamental goal will always be to manage energy use.