Sustainability projects in our U.S. facilities include upgraded power and HVAC system components, enhanced airflow management, lighting retrofits and other improvements. In several facilities in Europe, we’re going even further with state-of-the-art cooling and other strategies to reduce overall power loads.

Aligning with our focus on energy efficiency initiatives, metered power offering can reduce energy consumption by engaging customers in energy usage management. Just like it sounds, metered power is a usage-based power pricing solution now available to large zColo customers. Rather than paying for block power whether you use it or not, you only pay for the power you use. Similar to residential energy programs that show usage patterns with smart meters, industrial metered power solutions provide transparency around your usage so you can consume power more efficiently.

Some are transitioning to new, energy-efficient equipment. According to a recent Energy Star survey, upgrading to new servers can save as more than 50 percent on energy consumption. The good news: efficiency also translates to cost savings.Based on the U.S. average cost of energy and the average utilization of a server, this results in $60 to $120 of savings annually. For a full cabinet of servers, the energy savings on an annual basis can approach $5,000.

Making progress on a national basis

The savings for businesses can add up to significant sustainability impacts on a national and global basis. According to a recent U.S. Department of Energy study on data center energy use, energy use has grown only slightly while demand has increased significantly. In 2014, data centers consumed approximately 70 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity representing a 4 percent increase over five years. That compares to a 24 percent increase in the preceding five years.