Data Centers

Communities may not understand every detail of artificial intelligence or cloud computing, but they understand water. When a new data center is proposed, that's often the first question, ahead of servers or electricity. Many people still picture data centers as heavy consumers of water. Increasingly, however, the industry has moved toward liquid cooling and closed-loop systems that continuously recirculate water.

Driven by the search for land and the critical power capacity necessary for modern AI data centers, there is a notable rise in major projects planned in regions that historically have not been considered traditional data center markets in the U.S.

This guide explores advanced trends for enhancing data center sustainability. As technologies like AI, VR, and AR evolve, data centers are rapidly expanding in density and capacity, demanding innovative approaches to cooling, energy sourcing, and infrastructure development. Here, we discuss how direct liquid cooling, stringent environmental compliance, and the growth of high-performance computing are shaping the future of sustainable data centers.

The unprecedented growth of data center construction combined with the rapid evolution of the systems to operate these facilities has stretched traditional construction resources to the limit. This dynamic has put innovative solutions, such as prefabrication and modular construction, at center stage for data center owners, operators and builders.