The Urgency of Sustainability
Data centres play a crucial role in modern infrastructure, but their environmental impact is significant. At Keysource, we understand the urgency of data centre sustainability in the face of increasing energy consumption and operational costs.
Our sustainability services provide customers with legislative and regulation advice to help navigate a changing landscape, audits, assessments, embodied & operational carbon modelling to measure and benchmark performance, intervention assessments to identify feasible opportunities, and renewable solution analysis for robust technical and commercial business cases to deliver sustainability goals and objectives.
Why Do You Need Sustainability Services?
Increasing energy consumption and operational costs
A study by the McKinsey Global Institute estimates that data centre energy consumption could grow by 50% from 2020 to 2030.
These trends contribute to rising electricity costs, impacting data centre operational budgets.
Pressure to reduce carbon footprint and MEET green goals
Consumers and investors are increasingly demanding greater environmental responsibility from businesses.
Regulatory bodies are implementing stricter environmental regulations, including carbon emission reduction targets
Regulatory requirements and compliance complexities
Data centres are being subject to more and more environmental regulations, such as energy efficiency standards and emission limits.
These regulations can be complex and change frequently, requiring data centre operators to stay up-to-date and ensure compliance
Our Services
In 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to set a binding target to reach net zero emissions by 2050. More than 90% of global gross domestic product and 88% of global emissions are now covered by net zero commitments. We can help you reach your net zero target, no matter where you are on your journey so far. Our main services include:
Decarbonisation Assessment
Our decarbonisation assessment services focus on optimising energy consumption to reduce carbon emissions across Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 categories. We evaluate current energy usage patterns, infrastructure efficiency, and potential areas for improvement to develop tailored strategies that align with sustainability goals.
- Embodied Carbon Assessments: We provide Embodied Carbon Assessments to evaluate the environmental impact of a data centre across its full life cycle, from design and construction to operation and decommissioning. These assessments follow Whole Life Carbon principles and align with GLA, Net Zero (UKGBC), and BREEAM standards, helping data centres reduce their carbon footprint and meet sustainability goals.
- Operational Energy Assessments: Our Operational Energy Assessments focus on optimising energy use during design and post-construction. Through energy modelling, we predict and improve Energy Use Intensity (EUI), enabling data centres to lower energy costs, enhance efficiency, and reduce their carbon footprint.
Our comprehensive approach not only helps data centres meet regulatory requirements and industry standards but also strengthens their reputation as responsible organisations committed to environmental sustainability.
Clean Energy Sourcing
Our clean energy sourcing strategy is designed to empower data centre clients with sustainable energy solutions tailored to their specific needs. Data centres can transition away from fossil fuels, significantly reducing their carbon footprint and aligning with global sustainability goals.
Our team of experts conducts thorough assessments to identify the most suitable clean energy sources from wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, based on location, energy demand, and budget considerations. Whether you're aiming to achieve carbon neutrality or enhance your green credentials, we can provide customised strategies that prioritise efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Our approach prioritises the design and implementation of systems that generate electricity on-site rather than relying on purchasing renewable energy off-site.
Green Building Certifications
BREEAM
BREEAM is used to specify and measure the sustainability performance of buildings. The framework enables reduced life cycle costs and increases in asset value, building user experience and health, corporate image and CSR requirements, and risk mitigation.
NABERS
NABERS Energy ratings measure and verify the actual energy use of existing buildings and server rooms part of the building, providing a rating from 1-6 stars and helping building owners to accurately target, measure and communicate the energy performance of their property. This investment grade rating can be used to demonstrate whether you are on a net zero carbon trajectory.
LEED
LEED is the world’s most widely used green building rating system. The certification provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings, which offer environmental, social and governance benefits.
Meet Our Data Centre Sustainability Expert
Maria Papantoni
Head of Sustainability Services
Qualifications
Experience
Maria has considerable experience in the building industry and has been involved in all aspects related to sustainability and low-carbon design, and can provide input for complex projects.
A recent example of her achievements is the proposed refurbishment and extension of 4-5 Paris Garden and 18-19 Hatfields to create a single use office building, located in the London Borough of Southwark: An extensive feasibility study evaluated a range of low and zero carbon technologies for their potential to reduce CO2 emissions of the development. The study concluded that Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) and Photovoltaic Panels (PVs) are the most effective technologies, offering significant carbon reduction benefits:
- ASHPs could achieve a 33.7% reduction in carbon emissions.
- 90m² of Photovoltaic Panels on the roof could result in a 1.9% reduction in carbon emissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm new to data centre sustainability. Where do I begin?
Keysource is here to guide you every step of the way.
We start by understanding your goals and conducting a comprehensive assessment of your data centre’s current state.
Our team then develops a customised ESG roadmap with clear targets and actionable steps to achieve your sustainability objectives.
What are the biggest challenges data centres face regarding sustainability?
Data centres are crucial for our digital world, but they consume a significant amount of energy. This leads to rising operational costs and a larger carbon footprint.
Additionally, complying with increasingly strict environmental regulations can be complex for data centre operators.
How can Keysource help my data centre become more sustainable?
Keysource offers a comprehensive suite of sustainability solutions tailored to your data centre’s needs.
We can help you optimise energy use, integrate renewable energy sources, reduce water consumption, and implement circular economy strategies.
We also guide you through green building certifications and assist with carbon footprint analysis and offsetting strategies.
What benefits are there to achieving data centre sustainability?
Sustainability brings numerous benefits.
You can reduce your environmental impact, minimize operational costs through energy efficiency, and potentially gain access to tax breaks and incentives associated with green building certifications.
Furthermore, achieving sustainability strengthens your brand reputation and attracts environmentally conscious clients and tenants.
How much does it cost to make my data centre more sustainable?
Keysource offers flexible and cost-effective solutions.
We can discuss your budget and explore options like bundled services that provide significant savings compared to individual engagements.
This allows for better budgeting while maximising the impact of your sustainability efforts.
Ready to transform your data centre?
Contact us today to receive actionable insights and recommendations.
