Data centers power the internet, making digital communication and connection possible. They also account for the highest percentage of Meta’s energy use, water use and GHG emissions.
We can have the largest impact on our overall emissions reductions by designing, building and operating some of the most sustainable data centers in the world. Data center buildings we completed in 2022 exhibit a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.09 and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) of 0.20.
For the Earth
Efficiency and renewable energy are key components of our approach to designing, building and operating sustainable data centers. This comprehensive approach has led to 100% of our operational data center buildings earning, at minimum, LEED Gold certification.
Each data center site is designed to promote biodiversity, native plants and adaptive landscapes that mimic the natural hydrology of the region to help reduce urban heat island effect. We choose plant species, efficient irrigation and alternative water sources when available in addition to Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified new wood products and smart scheduling technologies that together save more than 80 million gallons of water per year.
For our people
With each new data center, we strive to improve sustainability, inclusiveness and comfort for our Metamates. These efforts include:
- Reducing indoor air contaminants, resulting in lower absenteeism and increased productivity
- Improving interior acoustics for better privacy and concentration as well as improved lighting for better visibility
- Following LEED guidelines to increase fresh air by 30% to improve cognition
- Maximizing natural light and views to outdoor landscaping
Case study
Optimizing humidity for efficient water use
In 2022, we tested increasing our data hall temperature from 85 F to 90 F at select pilot campuses. The preliminary results indicate a reduction over 50% of our water use over the summer season, with little to no impact to our data center operations.
We have begun to implement this change across existing data centers, further reducing water usage across our data center fleet.
Data center water efficiency
Because data centers rely on water to cool servers and maintain humidity levels, our teams are always looking for ways to reduce our water use. One method we use to conserve water is through direct evaporative cooling, which relies on outside air.
Traditional technologies, like chilled water plants and cooling towers, rely on water to reject heat. In areas facing specific environmental challenges, such as high levels of dust, extreme humidity or elevated salinity, using direct cooling could severely impact IT equipment.
In these cases, we use indirect cooling systems to minimize the risk to our buildings and the servers housed within. In partnership with Nortek Air Solutions, we have developed an indirect cooling technology, called the StatePoint Liquid Cooling (SPLC) system. The first of its kind to be deployed to data centers, the system uses less water than a typical indirect cooling system because it uses air to cool water instead of using water to cool air.
Sustainability impact map
We are committed to creating a positive impact on the communities where we operate. That is why all of our renewable energy projects are interconnected to the same electric grid as our facilities. This map highlights our renewable energy procurement and deployment efforts worldwide, water stewardship efforts in the communities we operate in, and other sustainability features across our global portfolio of data centers.
2023 Sustainability Report
We envision a just and equitable transition to a zero-carbon economy and are working to scale inclusive solutions that help create a healthier planet for all.