As businesses strive to align their data centre needs with their environmental and sustainability strategies, finding a responsible data centre has become paramount. When selecting a data centre that prioritises sustainability, businesses should look to the sustainability credentials held by the data centre.

You can learn about additional ways to build a more sustainable future for your business by downloading chapter two of our Vision for Digital Infrastructure in 2030 Report, which delves into this topic in greater detail.

The key sustainability standards in data centres to look for are ISO 14001, ISO 50001, GHG reporting using GHG Protocol and the BREEAM standards

  • ISO 14001: Environmental Management System (EMS)

When a data centre holds ISO 14001 certification, it signifies the data centre has implemented environmental practices and is actively working towards reducing its environmental footprint. This requires the establishment of a comprehensive EMS, focusing on environmental objectives such as reducing energy consumption, managing waste, and optimising resource use.

  • ISO 50001: Energy Management System (EnMS)

Achieving ISO 50001 demonstrates a commitment to sustainable energy management. Holding this certification shows that a data centre is dedicated to improving energy efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and lowering associated costs.

  • Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol

GHG Protocol is the world’s most widely used greenhouse gas accounting standards and guidance. It allows companies to develop a reliable inventory of GHG emissions. It also provides a benchmarking tool for different companies within the same industry.

  • BREEAM Standards

BREEAM is a recognised sustainability assessment method for the built environment and infrastructure. The BREEAM framework is used to assess the whole-life performance of new builds, refurbishments and fit-outs. Achieving a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating indicates that a data centre has met rigorous sustainability criteria. This certification encompasses areas such as energy efficiency, water conservation, and responsible material selection. BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standards demonstrate a commitment to sustainable design, construction, and operation of the data centre.

  • Carbon Trust Standard

Awarded to organisations that have demonstrated a commitment to reducing their carbon emissions; to receive certification, data centres must undergo assessment and certification to demonstrate their efforts in three areas: carbon, water and waste.

Our certifications

At Telehouse, we are at the forefront of sustainability in data centres. As a leading sustainable data centre provider, we use 100% clean and renewable energy sources across all operations. Since April 2019, we have reported zero carbon in GHG Protocol Scope 2, while our North Two building, which houses the world’s first indirect adiabatic cooling system, is certified to the BREEAM standards.

If you’re serious about sustainability, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team for sustainable data centre services to discover how we can help you fulfil your own sustainability commitments.

View our certificates