Energy-efficient design and operation
Promoting efficient buildings, cooling systems, servers and software, and transparent measurement of energy performance.
Focus area
Sustainable Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure
Advancing digital infrastructure that is energy-efficient, powered by renewable energy, conscious of water use, circular and resilient.
Why it matters
Data centers and networks form the physical backbone of the digital economy. Every online service, every stored file and every AI model depends on infrastructure that requires electricity, cooling, water, land and hardware made from finite materials.
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As demand for digital services continues to grow, the way this infrastructure is designed, powered and operated has a direct bearing on energy systems and the environment. Data centers can also be part of the solution: they can run on renewable energy, supply waste heat to nearby buildings, operate flexibly in support of electricity networks and extend the life of their equipment.
The Foundation seeks to support knowledge, dialogue and good practice that help digital infrastructure become efficient, low-carbon, resource-conscious and resilient across its entire life cycle.
Priority themes
Sustainable digital infrastructure requires attention to the whole system, from power supply and cooling to hardware and long-term resilience.
Renewable power sourcing
Encouraging data centers to source renewable electricity credibly and to align their operations with its availability.
Heat reuse and water stewardship
Supporting the reuse of waste heat by local networks and buildings, and cooling approaches that use water responsibly.
Circular hardware and resilience
Advocating longer hardware life, refurbishment and responsible recycling, alongside infrastructure designed to withstand disruption.
Our objectives
- Promote energy-efficient design, cooling and operation of data centers, supported by transparent performance metrics.
- Encourage credible sourcing of renewable electricity and operating practices that support electricity networks.
- Advance the reuse of waste heat through collaboration between operators, municipalities and heat users.
- Raise awareness of water use in cooling and encourage water-conscious design choices.
- Support circular practices that extend hardware life and recover materials responsibly.
- Encourage resilient infrastructure able to anticipate and withstand climate and operational risks.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a data center sustainable?
A sustainable data center uses energy efficiently, sources its electricity from renewable energy, manages water carefully and makes the most of its waste heat. It also extends the life of its hardware and plans for resilience. The Foundation encourages looking at all of these aspects together rather than focusing on a single metric.
How can waste heat from data centers be reused?
Servers produce heat that is usually removed by cooling systems and released into the environment. Where suitable infrastructure exists, this heat can be captured and supplied to district heating networks, buildings or other local users. Making this possible often depends on early planning and cooperation between operators and local partners, which the Foundation seeks to encourage.
Why does hardware circularity matter?
Manufacturing servers, storage and network equipment requires energy and raw materials, some of which are scarce. Extending equipment life, refurbishing and reusing components and recycling materials responsibly can reduce this burden. The Foundation regards circular hardware practices as an essential complement to operational efficiency.
Build sustainable digital infrastructure together
The Foundation welcomes dialogue with operators, researchers, public authorities and others working towards more sustainable digital infrastructure.
In practice
Projects in this area
Projects in this area are being prepared
Projects and initiatives will be published here as they are launched.
Insights
News & articles in this area
News for this area will appear here
Updates, announcements and articles will appear here as they are released.
Focus areas
Explore the other focus areas
- Innovation & Digital TransformationThe Foundation works to ensure that digital innovation contributes to sustainable development, through responsible design, open data and digital inclusion.
- Renewable Energy & Energy EfficiencyThe Foundation works to accelerate the shift to renewable energy and to advance energy efficiency, storage, flexibility and smart, digitally enabled energy systems.
- Sustainability & Climate ActionThe Foundation works to support credible climate action, from emissions reduction and resilience to circular resource use and transparent measurement.
- AI & Emerging TechnologiesThe Foundation works to promote responsible, trustworthy AI, its use for climate and energy optimisation, awareness of its energy footprint, and the skills to use it well.
- Education, Research & TrainingThe Foundation works to support applied research, training and open learning resources that build skills in sustainable energy, digital infrastructure and responsible technology.
