Gartner predicts that sustainable data centers will soon become the norm. 75 percent of organizations will have a sustainability strategy by 2027.

By 2022, only 5 percent of all companies had a data center sustainability strategy. However, according to Gartner, such a strategy should become the norm by 2027. The analyst firm expects that 75 percent of companies will have such a strategy by then. Sustainability also pays off in other areas, it is said, and organizations must better arm themselves against disruptions.

Gartner bases its claims on a survey of 221 respondents across North America, Europe, and Asia conducted in late 2022. 42 percent say green choices drive business growth, and 29 percent see strategic value in new partnerships. According to the report, companies should not only respond to new regulations, but see them as an opportunity to innovate and discover new growth opportunities.

The growing importance of sustainability in the data center is due, among other things, to the fact that CIOs are handing over responsibility to those responsible for infrastructure. That often means more spending on sustainable solutions, but there are other options with more examples.

Buy less

So you can simply buy less technology. By extending the life cycle of hardware, less transport and less waste is required. It’s also a good idea to make the most of the available disk space. Gartner believes cost savings of up to 60 percent are possible. We believe this approach also has a downside, as older hardware often uses more power than newer ones.

Gartner also believes that a sustainability strategy is a good catalyst to drive growth and find new solutions. Eventually, money will free up to invest in new technologies like AI and analytics.

Finally, the analysts note that hardware shipments are still volatile. A longer life cycle of devices with a greater focus on recycling can mitigate this to some extent.