Sustainable (Green) IT — Circular Data Center Practices
Keywords:
Green IT, Circular Economy, Data Centers, Energy Efficiency, SustainabilityAbstract
The rise of digital infrastructure—driven by cloud computing, AI, and IoT—has significantly increased the environmental footprint of data centers, which currently consume nearly 3% of global electricity and could reach 10% by 2030. This research critically explores the implementation of circular economy principles in data center operations, emphasizing energy reuse, material recovery, sustainable cooling, and strategic siting. Through a combination of doctrinal methodology (reviewing legal frameworks such as the EU Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact) and non-doctrinal research (industry case studies and data analysis), this paper examines the real-world effectiveness of circular data center practices. Key findings reveal that leading providers like AWS, Google, and atNorth have achieved Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) as low as 1.1 and heat reuse rates up to 85%, while hardware circularity exceeds 99% in some cases. These practices not only reduce carbon emissions but also result in financial savings, enhanced compliance, and community co-benefits such as district heating and waste valorization. However, water usage in AI-intensive environments presents a growing concern. The paper concludes by recommending actionable strategies for policymakers, corporations, and urban planners to accelerate the global transition toward sustainable, circular IT ecosystems.
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