EXPERT OPINION

As the subject of sustainability in data centre operations is magnified , data centre leaders are actively striving to become more sustainable and ecofriendly . Jack Bedell-Pearce ,

CEO and Co-founder at 4D Data Centres , says business owners need to ensure energy efficiency is at the heart of every aspect of how a data centre is run .

As we become more environmentally conscious as a society , it is of paramount importance that we push for more sustainable business practices .

For the average individual , being more sustainable may amount to taking on more eco-friendly habits , such as recycling and reducing water consumption , or investing in electric or hybrid vehicles . It ’ s all about the small adjustments that will amount to bigger results in the long run .

For businesses and more specifically larger corporate entities , it ’ s a more challenging and decidedly nonlinear task . In recent years , there ’ s been noticeable public and shareholder pressure on corporations to prove they ’ re taking the necessary steps towards tackling climate change , mainly by publicly setting goals on how they plan to reduce their carbon footprint . One good example is the IT industry , which is actively seeking ways to minimise electrical power generation from fossil fuels , as well as improve waste management and water conservation .

However , IT also happens to be a sector that is in constant expansion , predominantly due to our increasing reliance on digital tools and platforms , which means that reducing energy consumption presents something of a conundrum , especially when it comes to data centres .

The role that data centres have to play

For the data centre industry , which is single-handedly responsible for at

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