Top Sustainability Metrics to Track ESG Goals and Compliance

Dec. 28, 2022
Learn about a set of sustainability metrics and mechanisms that data center operators can use to track progress towards their ESG goals and their compliance with government regulations.

As sustainability becomes an even higher priority for data center operators, it's crucial that they have measurable ways to track and report their progress to various stakeholders. Determining which standards and certifications to use can be challenging because the path you select will drive continuous improvement across your organization for years to come. 

Beyond Greenwashing: Sustainability Meets Compliance, featuring Iron Mountain Data Centers, explores a set of metrics and mechanisms that data center operators can use track progress towards their environmental, social, and corporate governance goals, as well as evaluate and report their compliance with governmental regulations. The metrics can also be used to evaluate the performance of supply chain partners. Check out our recent article series focused on the special report:

How to Measure Data Center Sustainability: We kick off our article series by explaining why it's so critical that data center operators establish material, impactful, and measurable ways to assess their progress towards their ESG goals, and then communicate that progress to stakeholders. 

A Primer on Sustainability Components and Measurements: In our second article, we outline the five basic impact areas of sustainability goals, as well as specific sustainability components and measurements. The article includes discussion of total energy consumption, power usage effectiveness (PUE), total renewable energy consumption, carbon usage effectiveness, and more. 

Understanding Sustainability Standards and Regulations: Next, we take a look at key sustainability standards and regulations including five of the standards published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that are most relevant to data centers. The article covers ISO 50001, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, the ISO 14060 family, and ISO 27001.

The Pros and Cons of Sustainability Certification: You can comply with an ISO standard without actually gaining certification, so is certification really necessary? We conclude our article series with a discussion of the benefits and disadvantages of getting ISO certified. 

Download the entire special report, Beyond Greenwashing: Sustainability Meets Compliance, featuring Iron Mountain Data Centers to learn more. 

About the Author

Kathy Hitchens

Kathy Hitchens has been writing professionally for more than 30 years. She focuses on the renewable energy, electric vehicle, utility, data center, and financial services sectors. Kathy has a BFA from the University of Arizona and a MBA from the University of Denver.  

Sponsored Recommendations

Guide to Environmental Sustainability Metrics for Data Centers

Unlock the power of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting in the data center industry with our comprehensive guide, proposing 28 key metrics across five categories...

The AI Disruption: Challenges and Guidance for Data Center Design

From large training clusters to small edge inference servers, AI is becoming a larger percentage of data center workloads. Learn more.

A better approach to boost data center capacity – Supply capacity agreements

Explore a transformative approach to data center capacity planning with insights on supply capacity agreements, addressing the impact of COVID-19, the AI race, and the evolving...

How Modernizing Aging Data Center Infrastructure Improves Sustainability

Explore the path to improved sustainability in data centers by modernizing aging infrastructure, uncovering challenges, three effective approaches, and specific examples outlined...

ebm-papst, Inc.

Secure Data through Cool Solutions

In this edition of “Voices of the Industry” Joe Landrette of ebm-papst Inc., discusses how the AI boom is changing the game for data center cooling solutions.

White Papers

Dcf Siemon Casestudy 2022 08 15 12 10 23 233x300

Wellstar Health Systems Delivers Successful Expansion with Siemon Advanced Data Center Solutions

July 15, 2022
Siemon explains how Wellstar Health Systems used advanced data center solutions to expand fiber densities within their leased colocation space.