Eco-Friendly Solutions: Build a Green Data Center

Recycled goods, alternative power sources and energy-saving technology are becoming commonplace in many homes and businesses. It’s a sign of the times as energy costs continue to climb and public concern over environmental issues grows. Data centers are not immune to this eco-friendly trend and, in fact, are reaping great benefits from going green.

For companies looking to build a data center, the traditional strategy focused on achieving maximum up-time. Little regard was paid to conserving energy or creating an environmentally conscious design. Only in the past decade have data center builders begun to realize that the higher upfront costs of creating a green facility are offset by the lower long-term operations and maintenance costs.

If you build a data center with the environment in mind, you’re likely to find that the benefits go far beyond just helping our planet. Not only will you use less energy and save more money, many states offer tax incentives to companies that build a green data center. Green data centers also provide a healthier work environment for employees and help build positive relations with the surrounding community.

Going green is a great way to help your company financially while helping the world ecologically. Here are some strategies that you can use to build a data center that’s eco-friendly:
- Use scalable or modular systems so you use only the needed energy capacity,
- Put catalytic converters on your backup power generators,
- Install a synthetic white rubber roof to dissipate external heat,
- Coordinate your mechanical and electrical systems so they run at optimal efficiency,
- Build your data center using recycled or low-emission materials,
- Establish a waste recycling program in your data center and recycle your obsolete machines,
- Cut down on power expenses by incorporating more natural light into your building design, and
- Run your facility using solar or wind power.

By making it your goal to reduce heat, improve efficiency and minimize the use of toxic materials, you can redesign an existing facility or build a new data center with a reduced environmental impact. What could be better than helping the Earth stay green while putting some additional green in your wallet?