Data centers sit at the heart of the digital economy, but they also consume enormous amounts of energy and resources. Goldman Sachs Research forecasts that global power demand from data centers will increase by as much as 175% by 2030. This increase in demand for energy will be accompanied by an increase in use of land and water. Those involved with land and water conservation realize that data centers will continue to be built, but that they can also be constructed in a better, more sustainable way. Let’s explore how this can be done from a conservation viewpoint.
Start With Energy Efficiency
The foundation of a sustainable data center is energy efficiency, because every watt saved reduces both costs and emissions. Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) remains a key metric, and modern best practice aims for a PUE close to 1.1–1.2 [i.e., for every watt used by a data center, only 0.1 to 0.2 watts are spent on overhead (cooling, lighting, etc.) while the rest powers the actual IT equipment], supported by continuous monitoring, public reporting, and efficient hardware and facility design. This means deploying high-efficiency servers, using virtualization and containerization to keep utilization high, and taking advantage of high-performance cooling designs (like hot/cold aisle containment). When a facility is optimized for airflow, power distribution, and equipment layout, the energy savings add up fast.
Clean Energy, Cooling, and Water
Once efficiency is under control, the next step is to decarbonize the energy that powers the data center. Leading operators source 100% renewable electricity through on-site solar or wind, long-term power purchase agreements, and smart grid participation that shifts workloads to times when renewable generation is abundant. Beyond that, advanced operators use batteries for backup power and smart scheduling to run during times of high renewable availability, easing strain on local utilities rather than increasing rates for neighbors.
At the same time, cooling and water strategies must evolve: free or outside-air cooling, liquid or immersion cooling, low-Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) designs, and use of reclaimed water all help reduce both electricity and freshwater demand, especially important in water-stressed regions. Some data centers even turn their heat into a resource by piping it to local buildings or greenhouses. These innovations cut both carbon emissions and operating costs.
Design for Circularity and Transparency
Sustainability is not just about operations — it covers the full lifecycle of equipment and facilities. From construction materials to servers, every piece of a data center has a lifecycle. Sustainability-minded centers refurbish equipment, minimize packaging waste, and recycle through certified programs such as R2 or e-Stewards. Low-carbon building materials and thoughtful end-of-life planning dramatically reduce the environmental footprint over time.
Sustainability must be measured, not assumed. The most trustworthy data centers publicly report their carbon footprint — known as Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions — alongside water use and energy sourcing. Certifications such as LEED and verified net-zero commitments help keep operators honest. Clear goals with regular progress updates turn sustainability from a slogan into a responsibility.
Think Beyond the Building
The Conservation Foundation believes site selection matters just as much as technology. Sustainable facilities avoid residential areas and sensitive natural habitats, minimize land disruption, and landscape their properties with native species that support local biodiversity. Efforts should be made to avoid locating data centers in drought-sensitive or water-stressed areas, and regions or municipalities that draw from a disproportionately carbon-heavy energy mix. Just as importantly, they communicate openly with the surrounding community about construction, water use, and long-term impact.
Final Thought… and a Call to Action
A sustainable data center is not defined by one feature. It is defined by a collection of thoughtful decisions across energy, water, materials, design, transparency, site location, and long-term operations. To help with the building of sustainable data centers, The Conservation Foundation has developed a list of sustainability considerations for data centers to aid in the process. This checklist was developed for The Conservation Foundation by DuPage Advisory Council member Steve Stawarz, Oak Brook resident, with consultation by fellow councilmember, Dan Probst, Roselle resident. The intent of this document is to help inform planners, community members, and local governments about what is possible for a building of this type, and to provide suggestions to evaluate the intended performance of proposed projects. If you’re evaluating a proposed data center in your area, this may be a powerful tool.
We are not saying “No” to data centers. Rather, we are saying “Build it Responsibly.” Please share this checklist with others, especially with your local elected officials.
Ready to expand the standard of thinking for land and water conservation? For more than 50 years, The Conservation Foundation has been a thought leader providing education on new and exciting ways of doing conservation and applying them to everyday life. The Conservation Foundation is also a forum for folks to push the envelope and challenge people in their thinking. We are always looking for creative, hard-working people — become a member today!
Feel free to comment on this blog with additional ideas.
By Steve Stawarz, Oak Brook
DuPage County Advisory Council Member, The Conservation Foundation