Data centres are among the most energy-intensive facilities in the UK's built environment as the storage, distribution, and processing of client data requires significant amounts of electricity. Data centres require intensive cooling and high levels of security, meaning that they can never rest. For this reason, achieving Net Zero by 2050 requires that a concentrated effort is made to reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions generated by these facilities.  

The UK is on a pathway to environmental sustainability, and as carbon emissions from the built environment are one of the largest contributors to climate change, every aspect of a new construction project's life cycle must be analysed at the outset to optimise designs, while existing facilities must be retrofitted with appropriate carbon reduction and energy efficiency measures to streamline operations and increase their sustainability credentials.  

Designing data centres for sustainability  

The need for data centres is unlikely to reduce, and if anything, will only continue to grow. Given their immense energy use, it makes absolute sense to focus attention on making these facilities perform more efficiently.  

This begins with a life cycle analysis during which project professionals and industry stakeholders must assess the environmental impact that each proposed data centre could potentially have at every point of its life cycle, from concept and analysis, to build, in-service and during its decommissioning.  

By analysing every element of the project's life cycle, it is possible to identify efficiencies and shape the approach to its build, determining what materials will be used and what build standards must be met. It is at this point that cost benefit analyses can also be conducted, ensuring that the final product will not only satisfy the user's needs but also the client's budget.  

Data centre life cycle analysis  

Concept and assessment  

During the concept and assessment phase, the scope of the project and its success criteria must be defined. Modelling assumptions will be agreed so that all stakeholders understand and agree how decisions will be made and progress monitored. Should ISO50001 accreditation be required, then agreement will be needed on how this will be achieved.  

Both embodied and operational carbon emissions must be modelled to understand the potential impact of any changes proposed in order that the selected option will have a minimal impact on human health while achieving the project goals of increased energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.  

Careful consideration must be given to sourcing materials and construction methods to ensure that value for money is balanced against achieving a circular economy. Ultimately, the primary considerations during the concept and assessment phase are to establish which design elements will deliver the greatest influence on the overall project outcome, to identify the most effective and energy efficient way of powering the facility and developing a whole life strategy against which progress can be monitored.  

Build phase  

Reusing construction materials is the easiest way to achieve carbon efficiencies and a circular economy, although the challenges associated with doing so are prone to introducing additional costs and time inefficiencies as materials must be tested and proven to be adequate for the new build prior to use.

Steel must be stress tested to ensure its integrity while timber may require additional treatment to render it effective for the full in-service period of the facility. There are costs involved in achieving BREAAM and LEED building standards which must also be factored into the equation.  

Some cost efficiencies may be achieved through offsite manufacturing, reducing time spent on site and improving quality control, while enabling innovative and sustainable manufacturing methods to be implemented on a large scale basis.   

In service  

Throughout the facility's in-service period, energy efficiency performance and carbon emissions must be recorded on a regular basis and compared against the planned baseline to ensure that the facility is operating in an acceptable manner and that the management company is accountable for its performance.  

Any deviations from the forecasts made during the concept and assessment phase must be investigated and remedial action taken where necessary to restore the efficient operation of the data centre. It is of the utmost importance that data centres report accurately and transparently in order to maintain public trust and support the government in achieving its Net Zero by 2050 target.  

Decommissioning  

Plans must be put in place and followed to ensure that end-of-life assets and equipment are recycled or reused rather than consigned to landfill once the facility is no longer required. If sufficient consideration has been given to decommissioning during the concept and assessment phase, then opportunities exist to utilise equipment and materials with extended lifetimes and which can be entirely recycled at end of life.  

Does your project need help?  

Build Space's Open Space Team has considerable experience building teams for Hyperscale Data Centres in the UK and across Europe. Please contact us today to find out how we can help your business too.