Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1464345
April/May/June 2022 I 63 DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS Greenhouse Gas Emissions Greenhouse gas emissions, often referred to as carbon emissions, are key drivers of climate change. Buildings are responsible for nearly 40 percent of annual global emissions, with 11 percent attributed specifically to building materials and construction, and the remaining 28 percent caused by building operations, as shown in Figure 3. © Architecture 2030. All Rights Reserved. Data Sources: Global ABC Global Status Report 2018, EIA. Other Transportation Industry 28% Building Operations 11% Building Materials & Construction 11% FIGURE 3: Operational versus embodied carbon emissions. Annual Global CO 2 Emissions by companies or individuals that achieve a verifiable reduction in carbon through activities including forest conservation, renewable energy development, and direct carbon capture. Energy The construction of data centers requires a massive amount of energy due to their size and often remote location. Most of this energy typically comes from diesel that is used by construction equipment and diesel genera- tors. Diesel has a much higher carbon impact than elec- tricity in most regions, meaning that one of the best ways to reduce the carbon footprint of data center construction is to electrify wherever possible. The first step in this process is to connect to the local electricity utility early in the project. Once the connection has been made, teams should phase out diesel-powered generators wherever possible and, if heating is required, switch to electric. Teams should then work with the equipment provider to determine if hybrid, electric, or even solar-powered equipment is avail- able in the region. Solar powered light towers and other ancillary equipment provide a flexible alternative to their diesel counterparts. Where diesel generators are required, attaching a battery pack can significantly reduce the generator run-time and the amount of diesel used. For the electricity used on the site, teams should consider purchasing from a renewable energy provider. If this is not available in the region, teams can still con- tribute to the creation of renewable energy projects by purchasing renewable energy certificates (RECs). If the project is in North America, teams should prioritize green-e certified RECs to ensure they meet the highest standards of sustainability. From a manufacturer's point of view, construction solution providers should prioritize designing sustainable products that focus on resource and energy efficiency. Additionally, manufacturers should focus on simplifying the use or application of their solutions. Productivity increases with ease of use, which can result in reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions from data center construction sites. These energy and carbon savings have a direct impact on project profitability and sustainability. According to the Paris Agreement, its long-term temperature goal to avoid the worst impacts of climate change global emissions needs to be cut in half by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. The best way for project teams to support this goal is by minimizing the carbon footprint of the building through reduced con- struction energy and embodied carbon. When on-site, carbon reduction is not possible because carbon offsets can also be purchased to support carbon reduction elsewhere. Carbon offsets can be generated and sold