SUSTAINABILITY
Data centres are the backbone of the digital age , housing the servers and other equipment that power our increasingly interconnected world . They provide the infrastructure that allows us to access websites , send emails , stream movies , and use cloud-based applications . However , these massive facilities come at a significant environmental cost .
Data centres are among the most energyintensive buildings on the planet and the energy consumption of these facilities has been on the rise for several years , driven by the rapid growth of data generation and the increasing reliance on digital services . As the demand for cloud computing , artificial intelligence ( AI ) and other data-intensive applications continues to surge , the energy consumption of data centres is projected to grow even further .
Environmental impact of data centres The energy consumption of data centres has created a number of environmental impacts . Jo Debecker , Global Head of Wipro FullStride Cloud explains : “ Data centres account for nearly 1 % of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions , which contribute to a growing global climate change issue . Companies in various industries use considerable amounts of water and energy to run and cool their data centres and servers – causing increasing concern around the world , and putting pressure on the grid power available for supporting daily life .”
Globally , climate change is a major issue that demands urgent attention . The increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events , rising sea levels , and more intense wildfires pose significant
86 February 2024