Equinix to "Adjust the Thermostat" to Optimize Data Center Energy Use

Rhea-AI Summary

Equinix (Nasdaq: EQIX) has announced a commitment to reduce power usage by optimizing temperature ranges in its data centers, marking a first in the colocation sector. This multi-year initiative aims to enhance cooling efficiency and decrease carbon impact, helping clients reduce Scope 3 emissions. Operating temperatures will align with ASHRAE standards, potentially improving energy efficiency by 10%. Equinix has maintained over 90% renewable energy coverage since 2018 and aims for climate neutrality by 2030, demonstrating its ongoing dedication to sustainability.

Positive

• Equinix aims for a 10% improvement in energy efficiency across data centers.
• The company has maintained over 90% renewable energy coverage since 2018.
• Equinix's initiative supports clients in reducing Scope 3 carbon emissions.

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• None.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Dec. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX), the world's digital infrastructure company™, today announced its commitment to reducing its overall power use by increasing operating temperature ranges within its data centers – the first such commitment by an operator of colocation data centers. Starting immediately, Equinix will begin to define a multi-year global roadmap for thermal operations within its data centers aimed at achieving significantly more efficient cooling and decreased carbon impacts, all while continuing to deliver the premium operating environment Equinix is known for. Over time, this initiative is expected to enable thousands of Equinix customers to reduce the Scope 3 carbon emissions associated with their data center operations as supply chain sustainability becomes an increasingly important part of the overall environmental initiatives of today's businesses.

IT equipment within data centers, including routers, servers and storage arrays, emit high levels of heat that requires data centers to be fitted with robust cooling systems to remove that heat. "Most datacenters operate within restrictive temperature and humidity bands, resulting in environments that are unnecessarily cooler than required," said Rob Brothers, Program Vice President, Datacenter Services, IDC. "Equinix will work with enterprises to change the way we think about operating temperatures within datacenter environments and how the industry can ensure optimal service levels for mission-critical digital infrastructure, while improving data center efficiencies. With this initiative, Equinix will play a key role in driving change in the industry and help shape the overall sustainability story we all need to participate in."

"As a long-time partner, we are pleased to see that Equinix is driving efficient data center operations through smart, sustainable operating practices," said Sue Preston, vice president and general manager, Advisory and Professional Services, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). "Optimizing data center temperatures results in more efficient operations, benefitting businesses and the planet. Through the HPE GreenLake alliance, both HPE and Equinix offer a comprehensive, cloud-smart and sustainable customer solution."

As a part of this new efficiency initiative, Equinix expects to operate its facilities closer to 27°C (80°F), aligning operating limits across its global data center portfolio with the globally accepted boundaries of the A1A standards from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). When combined with existing Equinix initiatives such as optimizing the use of outside air temperatures to cool its data centers, this new initiative will contribute to the overall sustainability of its data centers through efficiency improvements measured through Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). PUE represents the total amount of power being used by a data center divided by the power used to run the IT equipment within the data center, providing an industry standard for data center energy efficiency.

"Our cooling systems account for approximately 25% of our total energy usage globally," said Raouf Abdel, Executive Vice President, Global Operations for Equinix. "With this new initiative, we can intelligently adjust the thermostat in our data centers in the same way that consumers do in their homes. Once rolled out across our current global data center footprint, we anticipate energy efficiency improvements of as much as 10% in various locations."

"Data centers are critical to our daily lives, housing the equipment and interconnecting the businesses that fuel our digital lives – from online shopping to sending emails to streaming movies and video calls," said Jon Lin, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Data Center Services for Equinix. "As more than 10,000 businesses globally rely on Equinix's digital infrastructure, it plays a critical role in their supply chains. This initiative, once deployed, has the potential to significantly benefit these businesses as they seek to reduce the Scope 3 carbon emissions in their supply chain to meet their overall climate targets. It marks an important step in our comprehensive sustainability program and our climate-neutral commitment."

Highlights/Key Facts

• Equinix was the first in the data center industry to commit to becoming climate neutral, aligned to approved science-based targets, for emissions reduction across its global operations and supply chain by 2030.
• Equinix recently signed two new Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in Finland for the creation of new renewable energy generation, bringing its total renewable energy capacity under long-term contract globally to approximately 300MW.
• Equinix's renewable energy coverage has been over 90% since 2018. In 2021, the company achieved 95% renewable energy coverage.

Additional Resources

• The 4 Principles of Sustainable Data Center Design [Equinix blog]
• Equinix Sustainability & Reports [Equinix website]

About Equinix
Equinix (Nasdaq: EQIX) is the world's digital infrastructure company™. Digital leaders harness Equinix's trusted platform to bring together and interconnect foundational infrastructure at software speed. Equinix enables organizations to access all the right places, partners and possibilities to scale with agility, speed the launch of digital services, deliver world-class experiences and multiply their value, while supporting their sustainability goals.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from expectations discussed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, risks to our business and operating results related to the COVID-19 pandemic; the current inflationary environment; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; increased costs to procure power and the general volatility in the global energy market; the challenges of acquiring, operating and constructing IBX^® and xScale^® data centers and developing, deploying and delivering Equinix products and solutions; unanticipated costs or difficulties relating to the integration of companies we have acquired or will acquire into Equinix; a failure to receive significant revenues from customers in recently built out or acquired data centers; failure to complete any financing arrangements contemplated from time to time; competition from existing and new competitors; the ability to generate sufficient cash flow or otherwise obtain funds to repay new or outstanding indebtedness; the loss or decline in business from our key customers; risks related to our taxation as a REIT and other risks described from time to time in Equinix filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see recent and upcoming Equinix quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available upon request from Equinix. Equinix does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

 

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SOURCE Equinix, Inc.

FAQ

What is Equinix's new initiative for data centers announced on December 6, 2022?

Equinix's new initiative focuses on optimizing temperature ranges within its data centers to reduce power usage and enhance cooling efficiency.

How much energy savings does Equinix expect from its new temperature optimization initiative?

Equinix anticipates energy efficiency improvements of up to 10% from its new initiative.

What is Equinix's goal for renewable energy coverage?

Equinix aims to maintain over 90% renewable energy coverage, having achieved 95% in 2021.

By what year does Equinix plan to achieve climate neutrality?

Equinix aims to achieve climate neutrality across its operations and supply chain by 2030.

What are Scope 3 carbon emissions that Equinix is helping to reduce?

Scope 3 carbon emissions refer to indirect emissions from activities in a company’s supply chain, which Equinix's initiative helps reduce for its customers.