Sustainability Strategies in the Data Centers sector
As the global demand for AI and cloud computing continues to rise, data centers—already among the largest consumers of energy and water—face growing pressure to adopt sustainable design and operational practices. The Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Los Angeles (Nov. 4–7) will spotlight this urgent challenge, offering programs dedicated to sustainability in data centers. Through the USGBC Experience’s Data Centers Sector Roundtable, experts and industry leaders will explore how applying green building certifications can improve transparency, energy and water efficiency, carbon reduction and material sustainability. The discussion aims to develop standardized metrics that build public trust, align with policy goals and ensure that digital infrastructure growth doesn’t come at the expense of the environment.
Complementing the roundtable, several Greenbuild education sessions will showcase innovative strategies for transforming the data center industry. “Reimagining Data Centers” by Gensler and Transsolar will highlight how waste heat, currently a major byproduct, can be harnessed for community benefit, such as heating buildings or powering urban agriculture. Another session, “The Green Pill,” will feature leaders from Google, Microsoft and Arup sharing practical approaches to reducing emissions, power consumption and embodied carbon through new technologies and materials like mass timber and carbon-free energy systems. Together, these sessions emphasize how sustainability, innovation and collaboration can make the digital backbone of modern life more resilient and environmentally responsible.
