Optimizing Containment for Sustainable Data Center Goals: Enhancing Efficiency and Reducing Environmental Impact
Modern data centers face growing challenges balancing the energy demands of AI and high-performance computing with environmental sustainability. Optimized containment systems offer a key solution by separating hot and cold air streams, significantly enhancing cooling efficiency while reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.
By Andy Conner, Channel Director EMEAr at Subzero Engineering
The rising complexity of AI and high-performance computing (HPC) that data centers have increasingly had to handle has meant that they have now become hugely energy-intensive buildings. In addition, data center operatives have the ongoing challenge of minimizing environmental impact while maximizing energy use. Environmental consciousness and power resourcefulness are now essential objectives in the struggle to balance operational efficiency with sustainability.
One of the best strategies to accomplish these objectives is utilizing optimized containment. Containment systems offer improved cooling capacity with reduced energy use. By enhancing airflow control and lessening the pressure on cooling systems, containment can help data centers to save energy, not consume more.
Understanding Containment Systems
By keeping hot and cold air streams separate, to limit mixing, and increase cooling effectiveness, containment systems facilitate a regulated airflow environment.
There are two primary types of containment systems:
1. Hot Aisle Containment (HAC): This system encloses the hot aisles guiding the hot exhaust air away from server racks. The hot air is then returned to the AC return system. The HAC can increase cooling efficiency by 30%.
2. Cold Aisle Containment (CAC):This system isolates the cooled supply air from the CRAC units within direct proximity of the air intake of critical equipment.
While each has its benefits, data center layout, cooling infrastructure and sustainability goals can influence the choice of approach.
Best Practices for Containment Optimization
Containment should be the fundamental starting point for maximizing cooling capacity and energy efficiency in data centers. However, there are several needs to consider when determining the best containment strategy for the data center’s needs.
Efficient Layout
The current airflow dynamics firstly need to be assessed to examine and understand before the movement of air within the facility can be managed. Ensure high-density rack layouts are arranged together.
Seal gaps and openings to prevent air leaks. Floors and ceilings are the most obvious leak areas but so are grommets and blanking panels.
Adaptive Cooling Systems
Intelligent cooling technologies such as variable-speed fans and economizers can be used, alongside real-time temperature and airflow monitoring.
AI-driven analytics can also be used for proactive energy management.
Continuous Monitoring and Adjustments
Real-time monitoring tools should be implemented to track temperature, humidity and airflow to ensure ongoing efficiency.
Key Benefits of Optimized Containment
Optimizing cooling by separating the hot and cold air can ensure stable and consistent temperature distribution. By improving energy efficiency and overall cooling effectiveness, this can deliver on significant energy savings.
With optimized airflow control, any strain on cooling systems can be alleviated by targeting cooling levels precisely where they are needed. This targeted cooling can enable those higher-density server racks that are crucial for handling AI and HPC loads in specific sections of the data center, decreasing the risk of those zones overheating. This facilitates better utilization of the available space while reducing thermal stress on hardware, preventing premature failures and prolonging the ITE lifespan. Furthermore, intelligent containment solutions can use adaptive energy management integrated with a dynamic cooling control to adjust power usage based on real-time demand.
The cost savings accredited to these energy management techniques can contribute to a much quicker return on investment in infrastructure, while lowering operational costs. But as an added benefit, greenhouse gas emissions associated with excessive power use can also be drastically lowered, leading to a more sustainable operation.
No Containment?
What if you don’t use containment? While it may be possible to maintain enough airflow at the ITE intake to cool up to 6 kW per rack, more fan energy and lower supply temperatures would be required. Cooling systems would need to work much harder to maintain optimal temperatures effectively in the zones where the hot and cold air mixes, increasing the draw on energy. Hot spots and uneven cooling may also occur, negatively affecting the equipment’s performance, longevity and reliability.
Any negative effect on ITE performance or lifespan leads to increased maintenance costs or premature replacement. The direct consequence of producing more e-waste also contributes greatly to carbon emissions, adversely impacting sustainability efforts.
Reducing Environmental Impact
Containment strategies can significantly reduce the unfavorable environmental consequences of the data center. Water-intensive cooling systems can be eliminated, wasteful airflow and recirculation can be restricted and cooled air can be stopped from escaping. Efficient and effective cooling can lower both energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Optimizing containment is a vital first step toward achieving sustainable data center goals. Intelligent cooling systems, that decrease energy waste, and efficiently regulate airflow, can enable data centers to maximize and boost operational efficiency while minimizing their impact on the environment.
Carbon Neutral Consciousness
Long-term environmental goals need to be supported by sustainable infrastructure built with energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy sources. Utilizing containment to conserve energy can accomplish sustainability objectives while preserving high performance and reliability. This not only lowers the total cost of ownership (TCO), but helps to deliver on global environmental goals, enhancing eco-friendliness and reputation.
As the industry shifts to greener technology with a greater consciousness of carbon-neutral industrial sciences, optimized containment will continue to be a key strategy in the development of the next generation of high-performance yet environmentally friendly data centers.
About the writer With a proven track record that spans over 20 years in Technology Sales, Marketing, Channel Leadership, Management and Distribution, Andy Conner has a reputation for delivering results and business growth. His previous roles include Senior UK and European leadership positions at companies such as Lenovo and Iomega (EMC), all with a focus on developing sales, maintaining relationships and creating strategic alliances that maximize opportunities and growth within the Channel.
Company
Podcast
Advocating for More Women in Engineering and Supply Chain Management
Author Robert J. Bowman Featured interview with Jane Neil onsupplychainbrain.com
Jane Neil: Charting a Course for Women in Engineering and Supply Chain
Jane Neil is a pioneer. She’s one of the first women to go to sea in the British Navy, employed aboard ship as an electrical engineer. After six years of service, she entered the private sector, parlaying her skills and training into her current position as supply chain manager with Subzero Engineering, a provider of turnkey services and systems for data centers, industrial cleanrooms and other mission-critical environments. So how did Neil achieve success in a world that remains overwhelmingly male? On this episode, she tells how she augmented her technical background to acquire skills in organization, network, communication and negotiation — all crucial to success in supply chain — over a 30-year career. And she has advice for how we can bring more women into the field, through early exposure and awareness, active learning, and mentoring. Hosted by Bob Bowman, Editor-in-Chief of SupplyChainBrain.
Breaking Barriers Across Three Decades
When Jane Neil first stepped aboard a British Navy vessel as an electrical engineer, she wasn’t just starting a job—she was making history. As one of the first women to serve at sea in this technical capacity, Jane embarked on a journey that would span more than three decades, eventually leading her to her current role as Supply Chain Manager at Subzero Engineering, a Senneca company providing mission-critical systems for data centers and industrial cleanrooms.
Recently featured on SupplyChainBrain’s podcast with Editor-in-Chief Bob Bowman, Jane shared insights from her groundbreaking career and offered practical advice for increasing female representation in traditionally male-dominated fields like engineering and supply chain management.
From Military Precision to Supply Chain Excellence
Jane’s six years in the British Navy provided more than just technical expertise. The military’s emphasis on discipline, attention to detail, and performance under pressure formed a foundation that would serve her well in the private sector.
“The transition from military to civilian work presented its own challenges,” Jane explains in the podcast. “But I found that my technical background gave me credibility, while the organizational skills I developed in the Navy were directly transferable to supply chain management.”
At Subzero Engineering, Jane oversees complex supply chains for environments where failure is not an option. Data centers and cleanrooms require components that meet exacting specifications, delivered exactly when needed—a perfect application of both her engineering knowledge and military-honed precision.
Building Beyond Technical Skills
Throughout the interview, Jane emphasizes that technical expertise alone isn’t enough for supply chain leadership. She identifies four additional skill areas that have been crucial to her success:
Organizational excellence – The ability to coordinate multiple moving parts, anticipate bottlenecks, and develop contingency plans
Network development – Building relationships with suppliers, internal teams, and industry peers
Communication prowess – Translating technical requirements into clear directives and explaining complex situations to diverse stakeholders
Negotiation tactics – Finding win-win solutions when competing priorities emerge
“These aren’t ‘soft skills’—they’re essential skills,” Jane notes. “And they’re areas where many women naturally excel, though they’re often undervalued compared to technical abilities.”
The Path Forward: More Women in Technical Roles
The statistics remain stark: women are significantly underrepresented in both engineering and supply chain management. Throughout the podcast, Jane offers actionable strategies for addressing this imbalance:
Early Exposure and Awareness
“We need to show young women what’s possible before they make educational choices that close doors,” Jane says. She advocates for industry partnerships with schools, bringing female engineers and supply chain professionals into classrooms as early as elementary school.
Subzero Engineering participates in this effort through our annual “Engineering Explorers” program, which introduces middle school students to various engineering disciplines through hands-on activities led by our team members, including Jane.
Active Learning Opportunities
Jane highlights the importance of internships, job shadowing, and project-based learning that give young women practical experience in technical fields. “Theory is important, but actually doing the work—solving real problems and seeing the impact—that’s what creates passion,” she explains.
Mentorship at All Levels
Perhaps most importantly, Jane emphasizes the power of mentoring relationships—not just for new entrants to the field, but throughout one’s career.
“I’ve been both mentor and mentee at different stages, sometimes simultaneously,” she shares. “Even now, I have a mentor who helps me navigate executive-level challenges, while I mentor several younger women who are navigating early and mid-career decisions.”
The Business Case for Diversity
While much of the conversation focuses on creating opportunities for women, Jane also articulates the clear business benefits of diverse teams in technical and supply chain roles.
“Homogeneous teams have blind spots,” she notes. “When everyone approaches problems from similar backgrounds and perspectives, you miss innovative solutions. I’ve seen firsthand how diverse teams deliver better results—not just in theory, but in measurable outcomes like cost reduction, supplier relationship improvement, and crisis management.”
Reflections from a Thirty-Year Journey
Looking back on her career path from naval engineer to supply chain leader, Jane offers encouragement to women considering technical fields.
“The challenges are real, but so are the opportunities,” she says. “I’ve had moments of doubt, especially early on when I was frequently the only woman in the room. But for every closed door or skeptical colleague, I’ve found allies, mentors, and leaders who valued my contributions based on merit rather than gender.”
Her advice to companies wanting to increase gender diversity? “It’s not enough to say you value diversity. You have to actively create conditions where women can thrive—from recruitment practices to advancement opportunities to workplace culture. The companies that get this right don’t just benefit women; they gain competitive advantage.”
Learn More from Jane’s Interview
Jane’s full interview on SupplyChainBrain’s podcast, “Advocating for More Women in Engineering and Supply Chain Management,” offers additional insights on:
Practical tips for women navigating male-dominated workplaces
Specific strategies for reducing bias in hiring processes
The evolution of supply chain management over three decades
How technical backgrounds enhance supply chain decision-making
By Andy Conner, Channel Director EMEA at Subzero Engineering Article Featured on digitalisationworld.com
Over the last few years and looking to the near future, the demand for data processing has soared exponentially at rates previously thought inconceivable. Goldman Sachs Research estimates that while data centres currently consume approximately 1-2% of the world’s overall power, this is expected to grow by 160% by the end of the decade, and 2022-2030 carbon emissions are predicted to double!
The rise in demand for data processing
The increase in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) must take responsibility for its part in this increased data consumption. The International Energy Agency reports that a Google search requires just 0.3 watt-hours of electricity, compared with a hefty 2.9 watt-hours for a single ChatGPT query. But while AI commands greater power requirements, it does have the potential to make data centres much more energy efficient.
By using AI algorithms to predict, monitor, and adjust power consumption in real-time, and optimize server utilization and cooling systems, AI insights can minimize downtime by proactively addressing potential issues before they ever occur. From analyzing disaster recovery scenarios to managing cooling systems by adjusting temperatures and airflow, AI modeling and simulation can leverage the complex trade-offs between performance, energy-efficiency and sustainability measures to establish optimal facility performance.
AI’s role in sourcing renewables
While prediction and adjustment of power consumption are important to the efficiency of the data centre, the benefits of AI adoption don’t stop there. Integrating renewable energy sources into operations, by using environmental energy sources, such as solar, wind, or water, provides a sustainable means of power that not only takes the pressure off the power grid but takes advantage of all the power given freely by our planet. AI can help by predicting the available resource’s power and production, aligning it with the data facility’s demands to reduce its carbon footprint. By evaluating alternative materials from renewable or sustainable sources for use in the structure, infrastructure, and building of a data centre, AI can help drive meaningful industry-wide change.
Shaping AI legislation and standards
There is a lack of standardization within our sector. There are no global legislative policies and standards around sustainable AI development so there are no standards that responsible organizations can detail or present to their customers. Our industry must play a role in setting out what sustainable AI looks like, to determine the relationship between standards and policies on a national, international, and global basis.
We must have an informed understanding of the challenges our industry is facing, to allow us to assist in shaping policies and standards to drive the widespread adoption of sustainable AI. Conversation of real-world insights alongside technical expertise would enable practical and achievable guidelines to be implemented.
Associations and collaborations with industry partners, policymakers, industry bodies, and colocation facilities can help us by sharing the priority of sustainability and accountability up and down the supply chain.
The business advantage
While some organizations feel that offsetting a carbon footprint by planting a few trees allows them to claim sustainability, those who prioritize a truly sustainable future for development and innovation in the tech industry can reap real business advantages and tangible benefits.
● AI systems that improve operational efficiency and support the reduction of environmental impact can lead to lower operating costs offering significant cost savings. That can in turn translate to cost savings for their customers. ● By future proofing data centre infrastructure and containment systems to support emerging AI technologies, companies can better prepare for the growing power and cooling demands while maintaining a sustainable footprint. ● The top talent pool is increasingly prioritizing sustainability. The next generation of AI experts seeks employers with strong environmental and social responsibility practices and credentials. Those organizations that do not place sustainability at the forefront of their business strategies could potentially lose out on recruiting the best. The future of AI and sustainable data centres
While the use of AI demands ever-increasing high-performance compute processing power, data centres are likely to need to continue to increase their power consumption. Or do they?
AI is another step in the evolution of digital transformation. We can either allow it to consume more power or we can leverage it to enhance operational efficiency, integrate renewable energy sources and drive substantial and purposeful change. Many organizations will continue to embrace AI-driven solutions but, by developing and optimizing the technology, it can pave the way for greener and more energy-efficient infrastructure, benefiting both business and planet.
A true 100% sustainable data centre doesn’t yet exist. Newly built data centres can make themselves as sustainable and efficient as possible, but it is the legacy data centres that will continue to have their work cut out. That’s where new containment systems, ready for AI technologies such as on-chip cooling or the separation of hyperscale from standard processing in the same facility can enable companies to upgrade to more sustainable solutions, without having to completely rebuild or relocate.
Leveraging AI technology and taking full advantage of its benefits and influence on sustainability goals can pay huge dividends. By balancing the energy efficiency and cost savings rewards, combined with the not insubstantial marketing and promotional perks that provide added value, sustainable AI can deliver real business returns.
Subzero Engineering launches Composite AisleFrame (CAF) System
PRESS RELEASE
Sustainable frame-based support structure for IT/HPC Deployments, 50% lighter than steel alternatives.
In the ongoing challenge of balancing operational efficiency with sustainability, environmental consciousness combined with power resourcefulness are essential objectives for any organization. Data centers that are handling an ever-increasing complexity of AI and high-performance computing (HPC) have become hugely energy-intensive buildings.
To minimize the environmental impact of these buildings while maximizing energy use, new strategies need to be implemented and sustainable materials deployed. Subzero Engineering’s new CAF system is made of 100% recyclable composite materials which provides a sustainable frame-based support structure for IT/HPC deployments in environmentally-conscious data centers. As durable and robust as the Steel AisleFrame (SAF) system, but with lightweight materials offering more flexibility and easier scalability, the CAF delivers on substantial cost savings and significant environmental benefits for data center owners.
CAF is 50% lighter than steel alternatives and easily reconfigurable as requirements change. The aisle frame can be flat-packed, allowing more product to be shipped in the same space, delivering lower installation and transportation emissions and costs. Offering up to 4,299 kg CO₂ savings per frame, it delivers unmatched environmental benefits without sacrificing performance.
“The CAF has many benefits over steel. Every element in a data center has an intrinsic cost, and steel aisle frame is heavy. CAF has a weight reduction of at least two-thirds over steel, significant global warming potential savings, and improved strength per linear meter. The frame also offers seismic compliance, eliminates powder coating, and reduces installation time,” said Shane Kilfoil, President, Subzero Engineering. “The composite frame is more durable, safer, and environmentally friendly, with better transport efficiency.”
Material Benefits
CAF is not new. Composite material has been used in the construction industry for more than 20 years in many proven applications, such as airplane tail structures, outdoor utility/telephone poles, and transportation bridges. However, Subzero Engineering has refined the product for specific use in data centers to be denser, stronger and with additional fireproof properties.
Constructed with 100% recyclable composite materials, the material can be reused multiple times and has an extended lifespan, supporting waste reduction and net-zero initiatives. Its lightweight framework minimizes manual handling risks, is easier to transport, install, reconfigure and scale, and results in a reduced global warming potential in manufacturing, installation and transportation.
Weight Reduction Means Cost Savings
CAF’s strength per linear meter, combined with a 50% reduction in weight, enables multi-level data centers to have CAF systems throughout each building floor, without the additional financial risk of strengthening weight-bearing floors. Its higher tensile and flexural attributes, with a better compressive strength-to-weight ratio than steel, mean CAF is more efficient structurally.
The challenge of materials procurement also drives CAF as a convincingly positive consideration. Shane Kilfoil, President, Subzero Engineering continued, “While steel is resource heavy, CAF is non-resource heavy in implementation. This means Subzero can deliver this aisle frame in a fast and time-appropriate fashion. A steel structure could potentially take months to be shipped, but CAF could conceivably be delivered in weeks.”
As the industry shifts to greener technology, the development of sustainable infrastructure built with energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy sources will continue to be a key strategy in the next generation of high-performance data centers.
Utilizing the CAF system can enhance high performance and reliability at the same time as accomplishing long-term environmental objectives. This can lower the total cost of ownership (TCO) while helping to deliver on global environmental goals, enhancing the organization’s eco-friendliness and reputation.
About Subzero Engineering Subzero Engineering specializes in providing turnkey, precision-engineered data center containment solutions that are designed for industry-leading functionality and scalable fast deployments. With a focus on sustainability, our solutions are built to provide maximum efficiency, minimize downtime, and reduce energy consumption. Our team of experts works closely with clients to understand their unique needs and requirements, and we pride ourselves on delivering customized solutions that exceed expectations. Whether you’re looking for a new data center build or an upgrade to an existing facility, our turnkey solutions are designed to deliver exceptional results. Since 2005, we have been containing critical environments and providing exceptional solutions to the world’s most demanding technology companies
Company
Press ReleaseTeam
Subzero Engineering Appoints Midge Pan as General Manager for APAC
Midge Pan joins Subzero Engineering as APAC General Manager, bringing extensive data center industry experience to drive regional growth through strategic partnerships and innovative, sustainable solutions
PRESS RELEASE : March 1, 2025
Subzero Engineering is pleased to announce the appointment of Midge Pan as its new General Manager for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. In this role, Midge will oversee the company’s commercial business and operations across APAC, driving growth, expanding partnerships, and delivering innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of customers in the region.
Midge brings extensive expertise in the data center, IT infrastructure, and technology sectors, with a proven track record of driving business growth, fostering strategic alliances, and delivering value to customers. Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership roles at leading organizations such as Red Dot Analytics (RDA), Tech Data APAC, Eaton, Lenovo, and NCR (now NCR Atleos). His deep experience in alliance management, channel development, and commercial sales positions him as a visionary leader uniquely qualified to lead Subzero’s expansion strategy in APAC.
Subzero Engineering’s reputation for innovation, engineering excellence, and environmental impact services was a key factor in Midge’s decision to join the company. The organization is well-positioned to meet the growing demands of digital transformation, and Midge’s deep understanding of the industry, combined with his extensive experience working with data center clients, will be instrumental in driving the company’s success.
In his new role, Midge will focus on scaling Subzero Engineering’s commercial business and optimizing operations across the APAC region. He will lead efforts to expand the company’s partner ecosystem, enhance service delivery, and drive modernization initiatives. Leveraging computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, Midge will spearhead data-driven strategies to analyze legacy systems and deliver tailored solutions that prioritize flexibility, modularity, and sustainability.
“I’m excited to lead Subzero Engineering’s efforts in APAC, focusing on driving commercial growth and operational excellence,” said Midge Pan, General Manager for APAC, Subzero Engineering. “Our goal is to empower businesses with innovative, vendor-agnostic solutions that address their unique challenges and accelerate their digital transformation journeys.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Midge to the team as part of our APAC expansion plans,” said Shane Kilfoil, President of Subzero Engineering. “His proven ability to build strong relationships, drive business growth, and deliver exceptional results makes him the ideal leader for this critical role. With Midge at the helm, we are confident in our ability to provide unparalleled value to our customers and partners across the region.”
With Midge at the helm, Subzero Engineering is poised to strengthen its presence in the APAC region, delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of data center clients and other key stakeholders.
About Subzero Engineering Subzero Engineering specializes in providing turnkey, precision-engineered data center containment solutions that are designed for industry-leading functionality and scalable fast deployments. With a focus on sustainability, our solutions are built to provide maximum efficiency, minimize downtime, and reduce energy consumption. Our team of experts works closely with clients to understand their unique needs and requirements, and we pride ourselves on delivering customized solutions that exceed expectations. Whether you’re looking for a new data center build or an upgrade to an existing facility, our turnkey solutions are designed to deliver exceptional results. Since 2005, we have been containing critical environments and providing exceptional solutions to the world’s most demanding technology companies
Data Center
Educational Article
Top Five Data Center Trends for 2025
By Gordon Johnson, Senior CFD Manager
As artificial intelligence reshapes the data center landscape in 2025, sustainability and cooling innovations take center stage. Gordon, our Senior CFD Manager at SubZero Engineering, breaks down the five critical trends that will define the data center industry this year. From hybrid cooling solutions for AI workloads to global expansion challenges, these insights reveal how data centers must adapt to meet growing demands while navigating stricter environmental regulations.
1. Sustainability Trends Continue to Shape the Landscape
Looking ahead to 2025, data centers will need to continue getting more sustainable and energy efficient, especially with the expected growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). This trend will not be a temporary either, with many experts predicting data center growth to continue to at least 2032. The race to get green and sustainable is urgent, with data centers already stretching the limits of today’s power grid, with the predicted growth of AI requiring even more power when power availability is quickly becoming a source of local and global tensions.
2. Hybrid Cooling Infrastructure for AI and HPC
With the emergence of AI and HPC comes the challenge to cool high-density workloads. While traditional workload densities will continue to make up the majority of ITE in data centers for the foreseeable future, those deploying AI and HPC workloads will require some form of specialized cooling like liquid cooling. With the accelerated demand for single-phase liquid DTC (cold plate Direct-to-Chip cooling) needed to cool the latest GPUs (Graphic Processor Units), if a data center is not at least thinking of preparing for liquid cooling they’ll be at a disadvantage moving forward.
DTC deployments also need air cooling since up to 25% residual rack heat still needs to be removed by air, and since we don’t necessarily know how much air and liquid cooling we’ll need in the future, this highlights the need to design holistically for our thermal cooling needs which will include both air and liquid cooling to meet current and future ITE demands. Moving forward, we should expect a combination of air and liquid cooling systems (Hybrid Cooling Infrastructure) instead of a one size fits all cooling solution.
3. Using Greener and More Sustainable Materials in the White Space
In 2025 we’ll be seeing data centers looking for additional ways to lower their GWP (Global Warming Potential), and one untapped method up to now using recycled materials within the data center white space whenever possible. This includes but is not limited to products such as cold and hot aisle containment systems that already play a major role in reducing data center energy usage.
By adopting a more sustainable approach to data center design with recycled products, we’ll help offset the environmental impact by using an eco-friendlier infrastructure. Since more will be focusing on gaining credits towards LEED certification in 2025, using green and recyclable materials will be a natural strategy moving forward in the white space.
4. More Data Centers International Expansion
As in 2024, we can expect continued expansion throughout the globe in 2025. With traditional locations already squeezed for capacity and power, the industry needs to look elsewhere for new data center locations will continue. While the US accounts for approximately 40% of the global market, we can expect the recent trend of significant growth in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Latin America to continue.
5. Consequences for Ignoring Sustainability
With Europe having already implemented the new CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) and EED (Energy Efficiency Directive), the US is next with California already approving Senate Bill 243 (sb 253) for some data centers as soon as 2025. This means that data centers need to prove they’re being environmentally conscious with their energy usage, and products like data center containment will become a fixture in all data centers as the industry will have no choice but to modify their energy usage practices in accordance with these and future regulations.
Concluding Thoughts
Data center owners and operators will have serious decisions to make in 2025 the industry struggles to meet sustainability goals and requirements. As energy consumption continues to rise in 2025, the way we’ll achieve ongoing green initiative goals as an industry is by developing and using more sustainable practices which makes future net zero carbon targets possible and attainable.
Data Center
Educational Article
Leveraging AI for Sustainable Data Centers
By Andy Conner, Channel Director EMEAr at Subzero Engineering Article Featured on digitalisationworld.com
Over the last few years and looking to the near future, the demand for data processing has soared exponentially at rates previously thought inconceivable. Goldman Sachs Research estimates that while data centres currently consume approximately 1-2% of the world’s overall power, this is expected to grow by 160% by the end of the decade, and 2022-2030 carbon emissions are predicted to double!
The rise in demand for data processing
The increase in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) must take responsibility for its part in this increased data consumption. The International Energy Agency reports that a Google search requires just 0.3 watt-hours of electricity, compared with a hefty 2.9 watt-hours for a single ChatGPT query. But while AI commands greater power requirements, it does have the potential to make data centres much more energy efficient.
By using AI algorithms to predict, monitor, and adjust power consumption in real-time, and optimize server utilization and cooling systems, AI insights can minimize downtime by proactively addressing potential issues before they ever occur. From analyzing disaster recovery scenarios to managing cooling systems by adjusting temperatures and airflow, AI modeling and simulation can leverage the complex trade-offs between performance, energy-efficiency and sustainability measures to establish optimal facility performance.
AI’s role in sourcing renewables
While prediction and adjustment of power consumption are important to the efficiency of the data centre, the benefits of AI adoption don’t stop there. Integrating renewable energy sources into operations, by using environmental energy sources, such as solar, wind, or water, provides a sustainable means of power that not only takes the pressure off the power grid but takes advantage of all the power given freely by our planet. AI can help by predicting the available resource’s power and production, aligning it with the data facility’s demands to reduce its carbon footprint. By evaluating alternative materials from renewable or sustainable sources for use in the structure, infrastructure, and building of a data centre, AI can help drive meaningful industry-wide change.
Shaping AI legislation and standards
There is a lack of standardization within our sector. There are no global legislative policies and standards around sustainable AI development so there are no standards that responsible organizations can detail or present to their customers. Our industry must play a role in setting out what sustainable AI looks like, to determine the relationship between standards and policies on a national, international, and global basis.
We must have an informed understanding of the challenges our industry is facing, to allow us to assist in shaping policies and standards to drive the widespread adoption of sustainable AI. Conversation of real-world insights alongside technical expertise would enable practical and achievable guidelines to be implemented.
Associations and collaborations with industry partners, policymakers, industry bodies, and colocation facilities can help us by sharing the priority of sustainability and accountability up and down the supply chain.
The business advantage
While some organizations feel that offsetting a carbon footprint by planting a few trees allows them to claim sustainability, those who prioritize a truly sustainable future for development and innovation in the tech industry can reap real business advantages and tangible benefits.
● AI systems that improve operational efficiency and support the reduction of environmental impact can lead to lower operating costs offering significant cost savings. That can in turn translate to cost savings for their customers. ● By future proofing data centre infrastructure and containment systems to support emerging AI technologies, companies can better prepare for the growing power and cooling demands while maintaining a sustainable footprint. ● The top talent pool is increasingly prioritizing sustainability. The next generation of AI experts seeks employers with strong environmental and social responsibility practices and credentials. Those organizations that do not place sustainability at the forefront of their business strategies could potentially lose out on recruiting the best. The future of AI and sustainable data centres
While the use of AI demands ever-increasing high-performance compute processing power, data centres are likely to need to continue to increase their power consumption. Or do they?
AI is another step in the evolution of digital transformation. We can either allow it to consume more power or we can leverage it to enhance operational efficiency, integrate renewable energy sources and drive substantial and purposeful change. Many organizations will continue to embrace AI-driven solutions but, by developing and optimizing the technology, it can pave the way for greener and more energy-efficient infrastructure, benefiting both business and planet.
A true 100% sustainable data centre doesn’t yet exist. Newly built data centres can make themselves as sustainable and efficient as possible, but it is the legacy data centres that will continue to have their work cut out. That’s where new containment systems, ready for AI technologies such as on-chip cooling or the separation of hyperscale from standard processing in the same facility can enable companies to upgrade to more sustainable solutions, without having to completely rebuild or relocate.
Leveraging AI technology and taking full advantage of its benefits and influence on sustainability goals can pay huge dividends. By balancing the energy efficiency and cost savings rewards, combined with the not insubstantial marketing and promotional perks that provide added value, sustainable AI can deliver real business returns.
Don’t leave me stranded: the expensive and environmental risk of unused assets
By Gordon Johnson, Senior CFD Manager at Subzero Engineering Article Featured on digitalisationworld.com
The potential risk of data centers becoming stranded assets due to their power-intensive nature. As data centers increasingly handle High-Performance Computing (HPC), facilities can be challenged when it comes to delivering the output demanded while balancing the economic viability with the needs of the environment.
DATA CENTERS, particularly those handling HPC, are at constant risk of becoming stranded assets. Stranded assets can occur when facilities do not meet their designed capacity, are no longer economically viable due to changes in technology or business needs or fail to contribute effectively to sustainability measures. In the context of data centers, this often relates to cooling challenges and the cooling capacity that the ITE can’t use.
Power, space, and cooling are the main capacity parameters in the data center. Stranded capacity is installed capacity that cannot be used to support critical load. It refers to data center resources that are not available for use. Unfortunately, most of the time, you don’t even know if you have stranded capacity or, if you do, how much there is.
While critical loads are expected to be renewed, refreshed, or replaced over the lifetime of the data center facility, older, non-energy star certified, or inefficient servers that are still turned on but no longer being used continue to use both power and cooling resources. It also includes excessive redundancy or low utilization of the redundancy options, a lack of scalable, modular design and the use of oversized equipment or legacy lighting and controls. POWER + COOLING obsolescence must be considered with strategic changes or updates.
While many may plan for the update and evolution of the ITE, the mismatch of power and cooling resources versus the equipment requiring the respective power and cooling inevitably results in stranded assets.
Challenging the invisible ceiling
Every data center has an invisible ceiling that limits the amount of ITE that it can cool. With the shift towards HPC data centers, facilities are even more challenged when it comes to having enough cooling capacity to match (and exceed) ITE cooling demand. As data centers become more power-intensive due to HPC requirements, the cooling infrastructure must keep pace.
Inadequate cooling can lead to increased operational costs, reduced efficiency, and environmental concerns. It’s a problem since it prevents data centers from meeting design capacity and also restricts them from becoming sustainable and energy efficient. It’s also an expensive problem since wasted cooling energy is not contributing to the overall cooling of the ITE.
Stranded capacity is wasted energy, cooling unnecessary equipment and lost cooling to areas that need not be cooled. Stranded cooling capacity can include bypass air (supply air from cooling units that is not contributing to cooling the ITE), too much supply air being delivered from the cooling units, lack of containment, poor rack hygiene (missing blanking panels), unsealed openings under ITE with raised floors, just to name a few.
Combating the inefficiency
Releasing stranded capacity improves energy efficiency, reduces costs, and allows for increased data center capacity without additional cooling equipment. To avoid becoming a stranded asset, organizations should conduct thorough assessments when building or upgrading data center facilities.
While the root cause for stranded assets is often down to operational issues and conflicts of management or space allocation, future scalability, energy efficiency and identifying technology obsolescence must be considered with strategic changes or updates.
A lack of metering and metrics can contribute significantly to an inefficient data center. To combat this, it’s highly recommended to use data center monitoring software to help identify and eliminate wasted energy within the data center white space.
Monitoring and compliance with operational best practices can minimize the power and cooling imbalance effectively, but this needs to be an ongoing and continually updated process to reduce risk.
Realising the energy savings
Air management and control is a prerequisite to many energy efficiency measures. Wasted air is, after all, wasted money. Realising energy savings through correct air management can be done in two ways. First, to physically rearrange the space to promote the separation of hot and cold air. While this measure by itself does not save energy it does enable future savings to be made. Secondly, one of two of these actions must be taken: increase the supply air temperature and/or decrease the supply airflow rate.
Other options for energy savings include removing server waste. Idling or unused servers can consume up to 60% of full power while delivering no tangible output. Under-utilized ITE can be consolidated, saving space and optimizing the utilization of the ITE that you do need. Virtualization may be the most powerful of consolidation approaches. It consolidates applications from under-utilized ITE onto fewer items and better-utilized hardware. Some organizations opt for colocation or cloudbased solutions to minimize the risk of stranded assets by outsourcing their data center needs to providers that specialize in maintaining infrastructure.
In summary
Addressing the challenge of the stranded asset is vital for ensuring the industry remains both sustainable and economically viable while laying the financial foundation for its long-term future. It makes no sense to allow ITE to take up space that’s either not being used, consumes power but gives nothing in return, or indeed utilizes energy that affects and upsets the environmental equilibrium.
Using CFD to the max — Podcast Interview with Gordon Johnson
As Interviewed on Data Center Dynamics Zero Downtime Podcast Episode 70
Computational Fluid Dynamics has a very important role to play in data centers, but how does it work?
In this episode, we break down CFD with Subzero Engineering’s Gordon Johnson – the factors that need to be considered, it’s role in the data center, and the science behind it.
Listen to the in depth interview on datacenterdynamics.com
Jane Neil Of Subzero Engineering On How We Can Increase Girls’ Participation in Engineering and Robotics
Normalize Female Engineers: Using social media to showcase women in engineering can normalize the presence of women in these roles and make them more relatable to young girls.
Despite the growing importance of engineering and robotics in shaping our future, women remain significantly underrepresented in these fields. This series aims to explore and address the barriers that discourage girls from pursuing careers in engineering and robotics. We are talking to educators, industry leaders, pioneering women engineers, and robotics experts who have made significant contributions to their fields to discuss the strategies they believe can inspire and increase the participation of young girls in engineering and robotics. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Jane Neil, Subzero Engineering.
She is a positive self motivated individual with an outgoing personality who offers an analytical view to life and activities. With thirty years experience working in complex and constantly changing environments I have gained well developed organisational, networking, communication and negotiation skills and ability to prioritise and manage extensive workloads.
Through the unique experience of life and rigour within the Royal Navy, high pressure, time bound commitments on self and team was commonplace, this provided extensive travel and extended experience of numerous cultures.
Strong technical background with practice in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing and Supply Chain gained in heavy engineering within construction, pump equipment and automotive industry. Working knowledge of numerous quality systems and standards both from a compliance and an implementation perspective.
Her recent Supply Chain experiences have developed the ability to understand explicit and implicit customer needs while building internal and external working relationships across global regions. This has also developed Project Management competence, involving multiple stakeholders with varying needs, using influencing skills in a variety of customer and supplier situations, delivering results through people. All aspects of people management from recruitment to performance, an ability to identify support and development needs within teams.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
I’ve always been drawn to engineering, It’s very much an internal feeling. But it was out of necessity as my parents separated when I was very young, so if anything broke in the house, I was the one who wanted to fix it so my mum wouldn’t worry. I would carry out many simple manual tasks, such as plastering walls or laying bathroom tiles. I remember once the washing machine broke, and I gave my mum an electric shock in my attempts to fix it!
Back then, around 35 years ago, it was rare to find females in engineering roles. Luckily for me, the British Royal Navy changed that, and for the first time in history women could go to sea. That also meant that females could be engineers. Before then, the stereotypical WREN was handbag and court shoes, all very British.
I’ve been around the world, and I’ve done a lot. Since the Royal Navy I’ve been in many different manufacturing and engineering environments, from marine engineering, automotive, and pump manufacturing. The oil, gas and nuclear industries were prominent in my earlier career path and that’s before I went into more high-tech electronics.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
When I first started, the uniform issued to me was a mix of both male and female designs, because I was only the seventh woman to go to sea as an engineer. We were pioneers, not entirely sure what to expect. My first military assignment was during the Bosnia War, where I was awarded a NATO medal for peacekeeping. That was in my first three months at sea!
What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering or robotics, and how can we replicate that inspiration for young girls?
The UK Government presented the opportunity to me, but for future generations, targeted marketing and social media can be powerful tools. How can you get a female’s attention when you are competing with fashion and diet pills on Instagram, etc? Highlighting the potential for high salaries in electronics and engineering could be appealing.
We need to educate young people in digestible chunks while they’re still in that sweet spot of discovery and understanding, to show them what the future could look like! There are so many different elements to engineering and, for many, it can be quite overwhelming. Social media can play a big role in making these concepts accessible and normalizing the idea of women in engineering.
It’s also interviews such as these, where you can see that I have a normal life, kids and family, my work-life balance in check, I have a management role, and this is the salary bracket. Being here, proving to people that I’m doing the job, demonstrates to younger females that women are in management and engineering roles now, that we are supportive of those young girls coming in.
The path forward is now carved out, though it’s still narrow. When I was younger, the route wasn’t smooth — you had to climb rocks, overcome obstacles, and break through barriers. But today, that path exists.
I encourage women to walk that path, knowing there are others ready to support them along the way. As managers in engineering environments, it’s our responsibility to recognize and nurture the talent in the young.
There is a duty of care, a real sense of responsibility to guide the talent in the young females and give them stretch assignments. I’m always challenging the females in the work environment to be uncomfortable. Because being uncomfortable is good. It may not feel that way, but you must move your thinking because you only ever grow when you’re out of your comfort zone. Uncomfortableness equals growth and you will have no idea what you can achieve if you don’t learn to see it positively!
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
My sense of responsibility stems from the fact that I didn’t really have any work mentors or significant figures guiding me through my career. While I never felt recognized for my struggles, it taught me the importance of recognizing and nurturing talent in others. People nowadays are so concerned with themselves that they don’t have the time, space, or energy to recognize other’s talents, but that doesn’t mean that you’re less talented.
The adversity that I went through helped make me the person and the leader that I am today. It possibly makes me fiercer and more courageous. My career path may not have been a smooth ride, but that’s not real life, is it?
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
A coach called David Allen, and his program called Getting Things Done (GTD) made a significant impact on me. I got hold of an audio file of a seminar that he did probably 15 years ago, and I just loved it. It’s about time management & high performance. I still listen to the audio file today if I get bogged down or too busy. I’ll just play one of them and it lifts me up to where my thinking needs to be. It taught me how to mind map and how not to worry about the things I wasn’t doing so I had the energy to focus on the highest value projects. And it taught me how to extract those blockages from my brain, whether via high tech or low tech so that it wasn’t jamming my creativity.
As females we often worry about what we’re not doing, and don’t celebrate what we are doing well. Changing that mindset has made me a better mother, wife, employee, manager, everything. One of the most valuable pieces of advice I ever received came from the GTDs. I use it with my team: when we are naturally good at something, we often take that magic and put it in a zero-value bucket because we think it’s natural and therefore not special. We need to take our natural talents back out of the zero-value bucket as it’s our super power!
Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life or your work?
My favorite life lesson quote is from a Jack Canfield book. It’s ‘no blaming, no complaining, no excuses’. It leaves you nowhere to go, so you’re forced to own it. I was always taught by my mother to look in before you look out. We live in a world today where we’re so easily distracted with information bombarding us from all angles, that we’re constantly looking to the next answer and not concentrating on what we have in front of us. I believe the answers are always inside us. We just need to find the peace and quiet inside and take a minute to listen.
I use this life lesson quote in my day-to-day work and ask my team to do the same. Once you take the blame or complain out of the equation it becomes easier to look at the challenge and deal with it head on.
According to this report, only about 16% of engineering positions in the US are held by women. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from Engineering and Robotics?
As females, we can sometimes gravitate to areas and environments where there are more women around, sub-consciously avoiding those that are more male-centric. Women might have an idea of what a normal day looks like if they work in, for example, marketing, which is perhaps a more balanced role, but I don’t think we’re quite there yet on the engineering front. Again, social media can help in demystifying roles, and showing what a normal day in an engineering role is like. In addition, the availability of more equal salaries in this industry helps women to know that they are valued more equally.
This might be intuitive to you but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should enter the Engineering and Robotics fields?
Women are natural problem solvers. We look at things in a different perspective from men. Our brains are wired differently, so we can look at a challenge from all the different angles, which in turn offers more innovation. It’s a beautiful thing for a female to bring to engineering environments and there is huge satisfaction that comes from problem-solving, improving things, and innovating. Your self-esteem, your happiness, your take on life, the confidence that grows; you don’t have to think or feel like a man to bring that talent into the workplace. Diversity leads to greater innovation, and having more women in engineering will only accelerate progress.
Can you please share “5 Things We Need To Increase Girls’ Participation in Engineering and Robotics?”
1. Role Models in Schools: While STEM stuff is prominent in schools right now, it’s doesn’t quite translate into jobs available for females in engineering. Middle school is a critical time for kids to discover potential career paths. Having female engineers speak at schools and share their experiences can help demystify the field and inspire young girls.
2. Clear Educational Pathways: Highlighting courses available in college and how they translate into a career for women, would be a big improvement. If I’d had that knowledge at that age, my path would have been a much easier one to take.
3. Educate in Bite-sized Chunks: Educating young people to show them what their potential can look like. If we introduce young girls to the many different elements of engineering and the many different industries that engineering is a part of, rather than just a high overview, would really help the next generation to understand the innovation and change aspect. All too many times, people just don’t understand what we do, so to break down the many various elements of it in bite-size chunks of learning would help.
4. Normalize Female Engineers: Using social media to showcase women in engineering can normalize the presence of women in these roles and make them more relatable to young girls.
5. Promote Salary Parity: Demonstrating to young people that they can earn the same salaries as their equal male counterparts is powerful. Women deserve equal parity and pay, and that was part of the attraction for me when I was younger. I don’t think we’re fully there yet, but we are moving in the right direction.
In your opinion, what are the most effective ways to introduce girls to engineering and robotics at an early age?
It would be helpful if school visits with groups of females who had shown an interest in engineering could come into the company, how often do you see the inside of an organization at that age? Introducing young people to what the manufacturing environment looks like, how it feels to be in the building and meeting the people that work there would be very effective. If local businesses could be attached to school programs, and have classes come and physically walk around the business — it could be enough to spark a light.
Educational programs at the school level, hands-on learning experiences and opportunities, and fostering inclusive and supportive environments would encourage young women into the industry. A lot of impressionable young women worry that the industry is too male dominated and that can feel quite intimidating. Seeing real women who actually work in the industry and talking with them about day-to-day life would put a lot of young women at ease.
30% of office and 25% of production are female, we are a super supportive bunch! We want the absolute best for each other, it’s a magical environment. We would love to show our next female generation just how supportive we can be.
How do you think the portrayal of women in STEM fields by media and educational materials impacts girls’ interest in engineering and robotics?
Social media can impact girls’ interests, but I don’t think there is enough positive content to be found on the platforms, or that it’s real enough. It’s still very much at a high overview perspective, and it needs to be broken down into much more real-life examples for young people to be able to digest and absorb. Our marketing video has many women in production, and it does a great job in showing the reality of the industry. We need more displays of females in their normal place of work.
What advice would you give to girls who are interested in engineering and robotics but are hesitant to take the first step?
The path has been carved now, and, as females, we should be stepping onto it. The more that we do, the wider the path will become and the smoother the journey. We are always building our way for the future of females, so we’re not only responsible for ourselves, but we’re also responsible for whoever is coming next. We don’t have to be masculine anymore. We can make a real difference in engineering, and that is very, very satisfying. It’s a role where you can look back and say, I made a change. That could be a change in technology or an office environment for other females. Feminism has evolved; it is about heart, soul and humility. Bringing your diversity to an engineering environment where you are involved in the change for the future is a nourishing and rewarding place to be.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
“Women in Clean Tech” is the movement I’d inspire!
Women Engineering a Sustainable Future. It combines two crucial elements: increasing diversity in engineering and addressing environmental challenges. This movement would promote mentorship programs, collaborative eco-tech projects, and sustainability-focused innovations.
By encouraging more women to enter engineering fields, we can tap into a wealth of undiscovered potential. This diversity brings fresh ideas and approaches to problem-solving, which is crucial when tackling complex issues like climate change and resource scarcity. Utilizing individual talents to strengthen a group, recognizing and leveraging the unique skills and perspectives that each member brings to the table.
I recently implemented a recyclables project, led by a female on my team is a small example of this potential. Imagine this amplified globally — women engineers spearheading a more sustainable world. By merging gender diversity with environmental action, we can create positive change that benefits everyone and creates a powerful synergy.
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
About The Interviewer: Vanessa Ogle is a mom, entrepreneur, inventor, writer, and singer/songwriter. Vanessa’s talent in building world-class leadership teams focused on diversity, a culture of service, and innovation through inclusion allowed her to be one of the most acclaimed Latina CEO’s in the last 30 years. She collaborated with the world’s leading technology and content companies such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Broadcom to bring innovative solutions to travelers and hotels around the world. Vanessa is the lead inventor on 120+ U.S. Patents. Accolades include: FAST 100, Entrepreneur 360 Best Companies, Inc. 500 and then another six times on the Inc. 5000. Vanessa was personally honored with Inc. 100 Female Founder’s Award, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Enterprising Women of the Year among others. Vanessa now spends her time sharing stories to inspire and give hope through articles, speaking engagements and music. In her spare time she writes and plays music in the Amazon best selling new band HigherHill, teaches surfing clinics, trains dogs, and cheers on her children.
