10 Data Center Sustainability Improvements Quantified by Environmental Impact
Schneider Electric · Victor Avelar
Schneider Electric WP 188 takes a reference 1 MW data center and quantifies the carbon, energy and water effect of ten site-selection, design and operational improvements; the largest lever is a zero-Scope-2 electricity supply.
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Overview
The reference facility is 1 MW and the combined effect is given against the baseline: total GHG falls from 84,100 to 11,300 t CO2e (-87%). PUE goes from 1.33 to 1.13 and total energy over the study period from 120,000 to 98,000 MWh (-18%). CUE drops from 0.441 to 0.003 t CO2e/MWh and WUE from 2.39 to 0.0 m3/MWh. The study dates from 2025.
The scope split: Scope 3 falls from 43,600 to 11,000 t CO2e and Scope 2 from 40,200 to 0. The calculation uses the 2024 US average grid emission factor of 454 kg CO2e/MWh (337 Scope 2 + 117 Scope 3 upstream); hydro is about 24, France about 27 and Sweden about 18 kg/MWh (2024). The spread between the US average and hydro, about 454 against 24 kg/MWh, means the same facility's Scope 2 emissions would differ by roughly a factor of 19 by location.
The ranking is clear: zero-Scope-2 supply is the single most effective action, with low-embodied-carbon IT second; direct-to-chip liquid cooling and IT life extension are also significant. Extending IT equipment life cuts total carbon about 7%. Results are given with PUE, CUE and WUE together so trade-offs such as water versus energy are visible. The limit is that the figures belong to one US-based reference facility; on other grids the Scope 2 share would differ widely.
Key points
- Total GHG falls from 84,100 to 11,300 t CO2e (-87%).
- PUE 1.33 to 1.13; total energy 120,000 to 98,000 MWh (-18%).
- CUE 0.441 to 0.003 t CO2e/MWh; WUE 2.39 to 0.0 m3/MWh.
- Scope 3 43,600 to 11,000 t CO2e; Scope 2 40,200 to 0.
- 2024 US average grid factor 454 kg CO2e/MWh (337 Scope 2 + 117 Scope 3); hydro about 24, France about 27, Sweden about 18 kg/MWh.
- Extending IT equipment life cuts total carbon about 7%.
- Zero-Scope-2 supply is the most effective single action; low-embodied-carbon IT is second.
Using it in design
- In the sustainability panel compute operational CO2e = IT MWh x PUE x grid EF, with a grid-EF catalog by country/region (default US 454 kg CO2e/MWh incl. upstream) and a renewable-PPA toggle.
- Add embodied carbon of IT and facility with a refresh-cycle parameter.
- Show PUE, WUE and CUE together so trade-offs are visible, e.g. evaporative cooling lowers PUE but raises WUE.
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Who should read it
Sustainability leads and designers prioritizing among carbon, energy and water targets.
Related standards
- GHG Protocol
- ISO/IEC 30134-8
- ISO/IEC 30134-9
- EN 50600-4-8
- EU Energy Efficiency Directive (data center reporting)
Publication details
- Authors
- Victor Avelar
- Publisher
- Schneider Electric
- Year
- 2025
- Document number
- WP 188
- Document language
- English
- Source type
- Manufacturer
- Access
- Free to read
- Licence
- Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document
Citation
Victor Avelar (2025). 10 Data Center Sustainability Improvements Quantified by Environmental Impact. Schneider Electric. WP 188. https://download.schneider-electric.com/files?p_Doc_Ref=SPD_WP188_EN
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