Environmental regulations are becoming more common and more restrictive for the data center industry. For narrow-sighted, business-as-usual centers, these regulations spell trouble. But for forward-thinking leaders, they present vast opportunities to advance technology—while protecting the planet.

As global internet usage has shattered countless records in recent years, the data center industry has grown tremendously. As a result, its increased environmental impact is being met with more regulations. Believe it or not, data centers already account for 2% of the world’s electricity usage—and that number is forecasted to reach 13% in the next 10 years. To put that in perspective, data centers already draw the equivalent energy of 33 nuclear power plants. And much of that energy is wasted by inefficient air cooling systems.

Since conventional data center cooling largely relies on fossil fuels, it’s an excellent place to start transitioning to a greener tomorrow. Incentivized by new environmental regulations, data centers are increasingly turning to liquid immersion cooling. GRC’s immersion cooling can eliminate most cooling energy use and emissions—and it can do it for a fraction of the price of traditional cooling methods.

Environmental Regulations Affecting Data Centers

We have environmental codes and regulations in place for good reason. It’s important to adhere to these rules; they are far from empty threats. Noncompliance fines can cost companies hundreds of thousands of dollars and in some cases, management can even bear personal responsibility. Not to mention, it’s also bad press for a brand to be associated with environmental violations.

Many of these regulations pertain to hazardous chemicals and electrical systems, like generators and battery backups. As it stands, most data centers are using fuel, batteries, coolants, fire suppressants, and other substances that fall subject to these rules.

GRC’s liquid immersion cooling eliminates the need for the very generators and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems that environmental regulations target most. Best of all, this eco-friendly solution cools data centers without any risk of global warming, while reducing your data center’s exposure to sustainability issues as a whole.

Smart cooling technology is an invaluable resource for regulatory compliance no matter where you are. Of course, environmental regulations for data centers vary by country and state. Generally, however, they aim to decrease electricity use and the negative ecological byproducts of the data centers we rely on to power our lives.

In addition to governmental regulations, there’s also an expected degree of self-regulation in the industry. Environmental rules continue to develop in response to new information and political pressures. Data center operators need to rigorously monitor these regulations to maneuver their challenges and reap their benefits.

Benefits of Environmental Regulations

Environmental regulations aim to protect the environment from undue harm. Implementing rules—and holding those who break them accountable—can reduce toxic emissions, resource waste, and the many other negative byproducts of air-cooled data centers.

Take the Clean Air Act, for example. It imposes limits on emissions and requires maintenance and testing programs for electrical equipment. Relying on fewer electrical systems—say, with GRC’s liquid immersion cooling—can alleviate these challenges while protecting the environment. Furthermore, some governments and utility services even offer incentives to data centers that put the planet first. These incentives include grants to upgrade to GRC’s liquid immersion cooling. That’s right. You can get paid to slash carbon emissions.

Upgrading data centers with eco-friendly equipment is no longer a question of if, but how. Cue GRC’s ElectroSafe coolant. Believe it or not, it has literally zero global warming potential—making it the perfect solution for environmentally-conscious organizations.

Challenges of Environmental Regulations

While environmental regulations undeniably benefit humanity, they also greatly restrict data centers. These restrictions can be costly, as they force managers to rethink operations. Not to mention, power usage effectiveness (PUE) now needs to meet higher standards than ever. The number of global internet users grows with each passing day. Conducting business as usual, particularly that of conventional data center air cooling, is quickly becoming unfeasible. This is precisely why regulations are on track to push data centers towards more efficient systems like GRC’s liquid immersion cooling.

In some municipalities, environmental regulations require data centers to recycle server heat. This is difficult and costly to do with conventional air cooling. The opposite is true for liquid immersion cooling. This successfully recycled server heat can be used however you like.

As with regulations imposed on any industry, there is a notable learning curve and even more challenges involved. Fortunately, GRC’s liquid immersion cooling alleviates many of these challenges instantly. With our state-of-the-art cooling solution, you save real estate, operational costs, and the greater good.

Go Green With GRC

Environmental regulations will continue to affect data centers, both positively and negatively. It’s up to data center operators to take the appropriate actions to thrive. With the right technology, we can transform data centers into cleaner, quieter, and safer facilities for all.

Liquid immersion cooling offers the most environmentally friendly cooling solution on the market. This sustainable technology makes complying with legislation a breeze. It also costs less to install and operate. Your green data center can even win grants for minimizing electricity consumption and carbon emissions.

Are you ready to lean into the green future—and even benefit from it? Learn what GRC’s liquid immersion cooling can do for you today!