La Bistoquette is an ecological housing cooperative in Geneva. Beneath its public park is Infomaniak’s data centre, which heats 6,000 households year-round. We rely on data centres for every Google search, ChatGPT query, TikTok scroll and document we save in the cloud. And with our use of digital tools only increasing, data centres are set to account for the majority of digitalisation’s CO2 emissions.
So, how can we reduce the impact of our digital lives on the environment? Ensuring data centres are sustainable is a key factor in mitigating digital emissions. From waste heat re-use to renewable energy and reducing e-waste, Infomaniak’s data centre considers sustainable practices at every step of its operations. RESET spoke to Thomas Jacobsen, CMO at Infomaniak, to learn about how to operate a data centre as sustainably as possible.
Re-using waste heat in a “unique, cooperative partnership”
As Infomaniak’s servers process data, they generate heat, which the company then captures. But, at 45 degrees, it’s not hot enough to contribute to Geneva’s heating network. During its cold winters, it regularly requires temperatures of up to 85 degrees. To tackle this, Infomaniak uses two high-efficiency heat pumps to increase the temperature of the waste heat so it can be used to heat nearby buildings. Then, the cold air emitted by the heat pumps is used to cool the servers. This allows the data centre to run entirely without air conditioning, reducing its energy use. “We chose this system because it cools the servers while reusing 100 percent of the energy consumed,” explained Jacobsen.
Keeping data centres cool is a hot topic
In many cases, data centres that boast green credentials after reducing their energy consumption have simply replaced air conditioning with water-based cooling systems. But taking water from local ecosystems to cool servers puts pressure on already-strained drinking water supplies in drought-stricken areas. Circular systems such as Infomaniak’s offer the best case scenario in terms of keeping energy and water use low.
Finding the ideal site to facilitate waste heat re-use was a challenge. Jacobsen tells us that Infomaniak “spent over two years identifying a site that met our needs”. Their requirements included redundant energy infrastructure (such as power or fibre), direct access to a heating network and proximity to buildings in need of heating. The site at La Bistoquette fit the bill. Though initially intended for an underground car park, Infomanik’s data centre proposal struck a chord with the housing cooperative, leading to the pair’s “unique, cooperative partnership”.
Infomaniak’s cold server aisle Renewable energy, offsets and server upgrades keep emissions low
Beyond waste heat re-use, Infomaniak aims to implement sustainable practices into all its operations. “For us, sustainability is not a trend,” Jacobsen explained. “It’s a long-term commitment built into our infrastructure, our strategy and our values.”
With data centre servers also contributing to global e-waste, it’s no wonder that “the manufacturing and replacement of hardware is by far the most CO2-intensive part of [Infomaniak’s] operations”. To counter this, they upgrade and reuse broken or outdated servers instead of replacing them. This extends their lifespan for up to 10 years, compared to the average five to six years.
Infomaniak powers its data centres with renewable energy from Switzerland. It’s also in the process of building its own solar power plants. “Our goal is to generate 50 percent of our total electricity consumption by 2030,” Jacobsen said. As a cooperative, the company also offsets its CO2 emissions and allocates one percent of its revenue to support organisations that protect biodiversity and push for stronger environmental regulation in the industry.
How can we ensure a green digital future?
Growing e-waste, carbon emissions from AI, data centre water usage—is rampant digitalisation compatible with a healthy planet? Our latest project explores how digital tools and services can be developed with sustainability in mind.
Why aren’t more data centres following Infomaniak’s model?
Despite their long list of environmental credentials, Jacobsen tells us that, “Our customers primarily choose Infomaniak for the reliability and quality of our services. Environmental responsibility is often the icing on the cake.” When these customers realise that Infomaniak re-uses waste heat, avoids energy- or water-intensive cooling systems and runs on renewables, many say, “That’s obvious—why isn’t everyone doing it?”
According to Jacobsen, “This is not a technological issue, it’s a matter of vision and planning.” The process of aligning all key stakeholders meant Infomaniak’s data centre took twice as long as usual to bring to life. “The transition [to sustainable data centres] is both technically and economically feasible but it requires political courage, regulation and collective pressure,” he adds. “What’s needed is regulation and for ERF (Energy Reuse Factor) to become a mandatory metric for data centres.” One thing is clear: our increasing demand for digital services means data centres that mitigate their environmental impact must become the norm. “This model can—and should—inspire others,” Jacobsen tells us. Let’s hope Infomaniak’s blueprint can do just that.
