Data centres in developing countries are set to grow rapidly due to economic expansion, rising data demand (AI, edge computing, cryptocurrencies), and increasing data sovereignty needs. However, these facilities are highly energy-intensive, with IT equipment consuming 40–70% of total energy and cooling systems using 20–50%. The International Energy Agency estimates that data centres will drive more than 20 per cent of the growth in electricity demand between now and 2030, with demand possibly doubling in the next five years. Despite efficiency improvements, regulations remain insufficient, with the EU still drafting its first Data Centre Regulation.
Against this background, United For Efficiency has developed the Sustainable Procurement Guidelines for Data Centres and Servers. These guidelines are designed to help organisations set robust criteria and processes that improve the energy efficiency of their current or upcoming facilities. They offer recommendations on several key performance criteria and operating conditions that are most relevant and impactful for selecting energy-efficient data centres and computer servers. The criteria cover indicators such as power usage effectiveness, water usage effectiveness, IT equipment energy efficiency, and cooling effectiveness ratio.
