This year’s Earth Day theme, “Our Power, Our Planet” couldn’t be more fitting for the data center industry. It’s no secret that data centers use a lot of power—and their impact is growing.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), data centers account for:
• About 1% of global electricity use
• 2–4% in large economies like the U.S. and EU
• Over 10% in some high-tech concentrated U.S. states
• More than 20% in Ireland’s tech-heavy economy!
As our world becomes more digital and technologies like AI continue to expand, the demand for dense, high-powered computing is only accelerating.
With such a high energy footprint, data centers play a critical role—not just in driving digital progress, but also in shaping how we transition to cleaner, renewable power. The industry's energy use presents both a challenge and a powerful opportunity to lead on climate action.
Fortunately, the industry is well aware of our impact and many data center companies already have established goals focused on transitioning to carbon-free electricity sources. The development of comprehensive frameworks, public disclosures, and global initiatives all contribute to holding companies accountable and helping them measure and set goals toward reducing their impacts.
While decarbonization strategies exist, some are more impactful than others. The most effective approaches are rooted in a few key best practices:
1. Use standardized frameworks such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol to aid in accurate target setting and comparisons.
2. Establish clear, time-bound commitments with annual targets to ensure consistent progress.
3. Prioritize energy efficiency initiatives to reduce demand at the source.
4. Align with science-based targets (SBTi) to stay on a sustainable path.
5. Prioritize high quality renewable electricity that adds new generation capacity to the same grid where the energy is used.
6. Limit use of carbon offsets, employing them only to address residual emissions after all other steps have been taken.
CyrusOne's action on these strategies is already providing benefits to the company. We have made meaningful progress towards our Climate Neutral by 2030 goal, with carbon emissions having decreased by 29% compared to a 2021 baseline, aligning with our largest customers and having secured discounted financing tied to the achievement of our annual carbon-reduction targets. This also reduces our risk in the face of uncertainty for future regulations and development requirements.
The theme “Our Power, Our Planet” also reminds us of the power of collective effort. When companies across the industry align on climate goals, the impact is far-reaching—fueling innovation and progress.
The benefits go far beyond carbon reduction:
Reduced water consumption through the energy supply chain: While traditional fossil fuel electricity generation requires significant water for extraction, processing and cooling, renewable sources like wind and solar consume virtually no water during operation.
Minimized ecological damage: Extraction processes for fossil fuels often clear land, fragmenting and disturbing habitats.
Reduce air and water pollution: Burning fossil fuels releases toxic pollutants, affecting communities, wildlife, and natural habitats.
Transitioning to carbon-free power benefits us all—and the data center industry has both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead.
Learn More About CyrusOne's Sustainability Journey
Visit CyrusOne’s sustainability page to discover the full range of initiatives and commitments we're implementing to reduce our environmental impact. Together, we can leverage our collective power to create a more sustainable future for our planet.