As demand for data center services rises, so does the urgency to address the environmental impact of digital infrastructure. The buildings that form the backbone of the AI revolution play a crucial role in mitigating the climate impact of digital technology. Equinix is leading the charge, advocating for innovative and sustainable practices in data center design and operation. It’s important to consider that many of these transformative innovations occur long before a data center opens its doors.
In this interview with Christopher Wellise—VP, Sustainability, Equinix—we explore the strategies Equinix employs to build AI-ready data centers with a focus on sustainability, as well as the broader implications for the built environment.
Just as roads, bridges, electrical infrastructure and water utilities are the physical backbone of our society, data centers are the digital foundation, enabling everything from video calls to online banking. However, not all data centers are created equally.
At Equinix, we are committed to advancing innovative solutions and setting a new industry standard by embedding sustainability into every aspect of our design and operations. This includes selecting the right sites, collaborating with contractors and suppliers, evaluating lower-carbon building materials, optimizing cooling systems for specific environmental conditions, and working with energy providers to develop carbon-free energy sources.
Embodied carbon—the emissions associated with materials and construction—represents a significant area for improvement. According to GRESB, building materials and construction processes account for 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To reduce embodied carbon, we focus on long-term impacts from the beginning of the design phase. Early collaboration with general contractors and suppliers enables informed choices that lower the building’s lifetime carbon footprint.
Collaboration is key. We don’t choose suppliers just because they offer low-carbon materials, nor do we exclude others just because they don’t. Instead, we seek partners willing to collaborate on creative solutions that align with our sustainability goals.
By fostering open conversations with our suppliers, we aim to create a domino effect that encourages industry-wide collaboration on carbon reduction.
Balancing water and energy consumption is crucial. Decisions we make during the design phase largely determine the long-term resource efficiency of a data center. Understanding local water stress levels is foundational to our approach. In 2023, we codified a standard in our design guidelines to avoid evaporative cooling in highly water-stressed areas, as it is the largest driver of water consumption in data centers.
Efficient energy use and the development of clean energy sources are also top priorities. We design our sites for optimal energy performance, focusing on reducing power usage effectiveness (PUE) and optimizing overall energy consumption. We also invest in new clean energy sources like wind and solar energy in our operational regions. However, we recognize that renewables alone are not enough.
To meet rising power demands driven by electrification and AI, we adopt an “all of the above” energy strategy. This includes evaluating low-carbon solutions such as fuel cells, hydrogen and nuclear energy, alongside traditional high-availability grid solutions. We are also piloting AI tools within our operations to further reduce energy consumption. By prioritizing sustainability in everything we do, we fuel growth and positive change.
Sustainability cannot be an afterthought in the built environment; we must embed it into the design and operation of all buildings, including data centers. I’m excited to join industry leaders and policymakers at Climate Week NYC to share more lessons learned and explore bold solutions that can scale to address climate change. During our Hub Live session, “Powering Progress - grid innovation, AI, and the next US energy transition,” I look forward to discussing how we can leverage current momentum to transform challenges into opportunities.
By working together, we can create a built environment that supports both technological advancement and environmental stewardship. To learn more about how Equinix embeds sustainability into every stage of our data center design and operations, visit our sustainability reporting website.