1、PreviousNext1Circular thinking for data centresHow implementing circularity strategies today can reduce whole life carbon and future-proof facilitiesPreviousNext2About usWe advise on,plan and design the future of the built environment.As a global consultancy with technical and advisory expertise acr

2、oss more than 150 disciplines,we bring a Total Design approach to our work with clients.This is how we shape a better world.2NextPreviousNext3Executive summaryGlobal landscapeThe data centre industry is expanding rapidly,driven by AI and cloud demand,but this growth brings steep environmental costs.

3、Whole life carbon emissions,especially embodied carbon from materials and equipment,are becoming the dominant footprint as electricity grids decarbonise.Based on data from real-life projects,Arup has collected insights about the industry today and outlined circularity strategies to cut embodied carb

4、on.These strategies can help future-proof data centres amidst increasing regulatory and public pressure to reduce environmental impact.Retrofitting existing data centres can be challenging in terms of efficiency but should be explored for small facilities or specific upgrades.Selecting low-carbon al

5、ternatives and biobased materials whenever possible can influence supply chains to enable change at scale.Relying on leasing models for specific components or systems(e.g.plant leasing)can help keep the facility in use for longer.Material efficiency can be increased with strategies such as optimisin

6、g structural column grids or prefabrication to reduce waste.Data centre power demand is surging globally,with projections it could double by 2026.Asia Pacific,North America and Europe dominate the market.Circularity strategies to cut embodied carbonBuild nothingBuild for long-term useBuild efficient