Green Data Centres or Sustainable Data Centres in the U.S.

Top Companies Driving Energy Efficiency, Liquid Cooling, and Renewable Power

Green Data Centres, Sustainable Data Centres

Green data centers—also known as sustainable data centers—are facilities that leverage energy-efficient technologies and environmentally responsible practices to minimize carbon footprint and reduce operational costs. These centers aim to optimize energy use, minimize water consumption, and integrate renewable energy sources, all while ensuring high performance and uptime.

As the digital world expands rapidly, the demand for data processing, storage, and transfer continues to surge. Traditional data centers, though essential, are significant energy consumers and contributors to global emissions. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), data centers account for roughly 1–1.5% of global electricity use—a figure poised to grow. In the U.S. alone, data centers consume more than 70 billion kWh annually. This escalating demand is compelling operators to embrace energy-efficient designs that align with both corporate ESG objectives and national climate targets.

Green Data Centres US

The global green data center market was valued at around USD 60 billion in 2022 and is projected to exceed USD 180 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of approximately 15%. A significant share of this growth is expected to come from the U.S., driven by hyperscale expansion, supportive government policies, and rising investor interest in ESG-aligned infrastructure.

Top 7 Green Data Centres US

Several major U.S.-based data center operators are spearheading the transformation toward sustainability through large-scale deployment of renewable energy, advanced cooling, and energy optimization technologies. Below are companies leading the charge:

1. Equinix

Equinix, the world’s largest retail colocation provider, is also among the most environmentally progressive. Through its “Future First” strategy, the company embeds sustainability across its operations, from energy and water efficiency to clean energy sourcing and transparency tools.

• Operates 268 data centers across 74 markets as of 2024
• Achieved 96% renewable energy coverage for seven consecutive years
• Maintains an average PUE of 1.39 (6% YoY improvement)
• Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) of 0.95, among the best globally
• Over $7 billion in green bonds issued to support sustainable initiatives
• Added 370 MW in PPAs in 2024, expanding clean energy coverage to APAC

Equinix aims to reach 100% renewable energy by 2030, demonstrating its commitment to aligning infrastructure growth with climate targets.

2. Digital Realty

Digital Realty operates more than 308 data centers worldwide, including 121 in the U.S., and offers scalable solutions through its PlatformDIGITAL® ecosystem.

• Over 60% of its global portfolio powered by renewable energy
• Targets 100% renewable energy for colocation by 2030
• Net-zero emissions goal set for 2040
• Developing 3,500+ MW of future capacity, with 644 MW under construction

Digital Realty’s scale and strategic planning position it as a front-runner in the green transition.

3. Iron Mountain

Iron Mountain combines secure information management with sustainable infrastructure scaling, targeting hyperscale and colocation markets with high compliance and clean energy credentials.

• Operates 29 data centers across 21 markets
• 100% of electricity matched with renewable energy since 2017
• 864 MW in development; 1,280 MW long-term goal
• Committed to net-zero GHG emissions and 100% renewables by 2040
• $161.4 million invested in sustainability transformation initiatives in 2024

Its Green Power Pass and involvement in the UN 24/7 CFE Compact underscore its forward-thinking ESG approach.

Companies Driving Sustainable Cooling Solutions

Cooling accounts for 30–40% of total data center energy consumption, making innovation in this area critical to sustainability. Two companies stand out in providing energy efficient cooling solutions for data centers:

1. Vertiv

Vertiv is a key enabler of sustainable data center infrastructure, offering a broad suite of modular, cooling, and power management solutions.

• Introduced hybrid and liquid cooling technologies like CoolPhase Flex and CoolChip CDUs
• Expanded liquid cooling capacity by 45x to meet AI demands
• Vertiv™ TimberMod™ offers modular, mass-timber data center designs with a 3x lower carbon footprint than steel
• Operating across 23 global manufacturing sites, including new facilities in the U.S. and India
• Vertiv 360AI platform supports scalable, AI-optimized green data centers

2. Schneider Electric Infrastructure Limited (SEIL)

While not a data center operator, SEIL provides critical technology infrastructure that enables green data center operations in markets like India.

• EcoStruxure™ platform delivers real-time energy monitoring and predictive maintenance
• SF₆-free switchgear (AirSet) and smart transformers help reduce emissions
• Strategically expanding in data center markets, aligned with India’s $5.5B investment boom

SEIL represents the essential backend sustainability technology supporting global data center operators. There are other companies as well offering energy efficient cooling solutions for data centers globally, but we are coving the best two here.

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Hyperscalers offering Sustainable Data Centres

• Google (Alphabet Inc.)

While not a traditional data center provider, Google is one of the largest operators of hyperscale data centers globally, with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation.

• Has operated carbon-neutral since 2007 and aims to run on 24/7 carbon-free energy (CFE) by 2030 at all its data centers.
• Uses advanced AI to optimize energy consumption, reducing cooling energy use by up to 30%.
• Investing heavily in clean energy PPAs and on-site solar and wind generation across U.S. facilities.
• Innovating with immersive cooling and machine learning-based HVAC control systems.

Google’s leadership in net-zero data centers and real-time renewable matching makes it a benchmark in sustainability practices at scale.

• Microsoft

Microsoft is a pioneer in combining cloud scale with sustainability, under its overarching goal to become carbon negative by 2030.

• Operates one of the largest global cloud infrastructures through Azure, including numerous green-certified data centers in the U.S.
• Committed to using 100% renewable energy by 2025 across all operations.
• Exploring hydrogen fuel cells and battery storage as diesel replacements.
• Leads initiatives on water-positive and zero-waste data centers, aiming for water replenishment in stressed regions.
• Partners with industry and government to accelerate liquid cooling for data centers and reduce heat intensity.

Microsoft’s innovations in energy-efficient data center cooling and integration of AI for sustainability monitoring set new standards for the industry.

The Road Ahead in Green Data Centres

Sustainability in digital infrastructure is no longer optional—it is imperative. With robust commitments from hyperscale operators, transformative innovations from infrastructure leaders, and policy support from governments, the U.S. is poised to lead the global transition toward energy-efficient data centers. For more on technical aspect of Green data centres refer this article.

The integration of renewable power, AI-driven efficiency optimization, and intelligent infrastructure design will be foundational to this evolution. As data becomes the lifeblood of modern economies, the imperative to build and operate greener data centers will define the next era of digital transformation.