8 Ways Data Center Environmental Impact Goes Beyond Emissions

Beginning around 2011, the mainstream media and activist outlets began paying attention to data centers, putting the pressure on industry leaders like Apple, Microsoft, and Google to clean up their power sources. These companies were already pursuing efficient operations – after all, every saved watt is saved money. But the increased coverage did seem to push them towards using renewables, as the general public realized that data centers use a staggering amount of energy and produce thousands of tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

We’ve covered all that before, and we’ve also touched on the swelling focus on data center water use, as well (facilities often require significant water use for cooling systems). But the environmental footprint of a data center goes beyond electricity or water. With systems this complex and engineering designed for 24/7, year-round operation, there are many additional factors that can often have negative impact on the planet.

Here are eight overlooked areas of the data center that have significant environmental implications.

Batteries

Data center Uninterruptible Power Supply systems require some pretty huge batteries that kick in when power fluctuates or goes out, keeping systems alive for minutes to hours. These batteries have a limited lifespan, usually between two and three years, although some last up to ten.  The majority of them are lead-acid, which means their manufacture usually involves destructive mining and hazardous conditions for workers. Nickel-metal hydride batteries do not contain heavy metals but they are not common in data centers.

Just like your AA batteries, these large units need proper disposal at the end of their life. There are many companies who will recycle UPS batteries. In the United States, 80% of lead manufacturing comes from recycled batteries alone.

UPS systems can also improve or degrade the energy efficiency of the entire facility. 

Coolant

If a data center isn’t in a good location for free cooling or indirect evaporative chillers (which simply filter outside air through water and circulate it throughout the data center floor, exchanging heat almost directly with outside air), then it will require coolant for CRAC (computer room air conditioning). Coolant might also be used for liquid cooling, which can be more efficient but does necessitate chemicals.

Coolant is often Freon / halocarbon or chlorofluorocarbons, which are mildly to highly toxic and can cause ozone depletion. Newer materials cause less damage to the ozone layer. HFCs, or hydrofluorocarbons, are the current most common refrigerant and while they have zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) they do have global warming potential (GWP), meaning they can trap heat within the atmosphere.