4:49 20 November 2025
Cutting data-center emissions
A surge in AI, cloud computing, and 5G has turned data centers into one of the fastest-growing sources of CO₂. An Arup study argues that smarter design can curb embedded emissions—the carbon generated by materials, equipment, and construction—by up to 40%. As renewable energy expands, these embodied emissions increasingly outweigh operational ones.
Arup’s report, Circular Thinking for Data Centers, draws on projects such as Citigroup’s LEED Platinum facility in Frankfurt and HSBC’s Tier IV center in Hong Kong. It shows that MEP systems account for 70–88% of a site’s embodied carbon, yet are often overlooked. Servers also carry a heavy footprint due to precious metals and rapid replacement cycles.
Key recommendations: upgrade existing buildings rather than build new; design for long-term use and component recovery; cut material use through optimization and prefabrication; and choose low-emission materials. Thoughtful, lifecycle-based design can align digital growth with climate goals.
Source: eurobuildcee.com
