GARRY CONNOLLY CHAIRMAN , GCONNTEC

As a result , the world ’ s data centres are now being forced to place sustainability far , far higher up the priority list .

“ I am not suggesting that this is going to be easy – it absolutely isn ’ t . But , we are going to have to change our approach to planning and the way we deal with the local community – we only have to look at recent blocks on new data centres in Ireland , Netherlands and Singapore , and the outcry about water use in the US and the Netherlands . We are going to have to deal with the impending energy reporting requirements under development in the EU and possibly extended to other jurisdictions ,” warns John Booth , Chair of the Data Centre Alliance , Managing Director of the Carbon3IT Ltd green IT consultancy .

“ We are , in short , going to have to become more collaborative and become good neighbours .”

Sustainability ’ s unwavering consequence – is the industry doing enough to fulfil these regulations ?

So , as more restrictions and limitations are set to be introduced in the future , is it possible for expanding data centres to pivot to sufficiently meet these high requirements ?

“ Sustainability is at the heart of every discussion in the data centre industry .

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