In today’s technology landscape, the proliferation of cloud computing, the growth of online services, and the increasing reliance on big data analytics have created a pressing need for data centers, which play a crucial role in supporting the digital infrastructure of businesses and governments, ensuring data availability, security, and accessibility. By attracting technology investments, creating jobs, and fostering innovation, data centers contribute significantly to economic development worldwide, serving as hubs for technological advancement and promoting a knowledge-based economy.

Today’s Technological Landscape

In recent years, the significant surge in demand for data centers has primarily been driven by shifting work patterns during the pandemic and the rapid expansion of cloud-based technologies and artificial intelligence. The trend should persist as society continues to harness the potential of these advancements. There is a significant effort to bring data centers closer to customers, capitalizing on the growing availability of high-speed networks in rural areas and smaller cities, thus contributing to the escalating demand for these critical facilities.

While data centers share common structural components, their assembly and design are all unique in their way. The increasing demands for computing capacity and energy efficiency are the principal factors fueling the trend toward increasingly customized data centers. As the global appetite for data center capabilities continues to surge, we observe a departure from conventional data center models, transitioning towards the next-generation data center.

Job Creation and Real Estate Development

Data centers require a skilled workforce for their design, construction, and ongoing maintenance, generating employment opportunities for engineers, technicians, IT professionals, and support staff. Most positions will require a university/college or technical trade, as predicted by the Uptime Institute’s Global Data Center Staffing Forecast 2021-2025. Additionally, these facilities often result in a ripple effect, creating jobs in industries like security, catering, transportation, and more. As data center operations expand, they often collaborate with local construction firms and contractors, further boosting employment in the construction industry.

By introducing a new source of economic activity, data centers offer growth potential untied to a dominant sector. Data centers often foster the development of a broader tech ecosystem, attracting technology companies, startups, and entrepreneurs. This clustering effect could lead to diverse industries, ranging from software development to cybersecurity, which collectively diversify local economies.

On the real estate front, data centers drive significant development. This surge necessitates the construction of additional facilities, greater land allocation, enhanced cooling systems, and increased electricity consumption to sustain the continuous operation of these infrastructures.

They necessitate large plots of land for their facilities and infrastructure, often leading to land purchases and long-term leases that benefit property owners and municipalities. This can spur real estate development in previously underutilized or remote areas, encouraging the growth of supporting businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and housing, which cater to the needs of data center employees and visitors. The presence of data centers can also enhance the overall attractiveness of a region for tech companies and businesses seeking reliable data services, potentially leading to increased commercial and residential real estate demand and property values.

In 2022, the United States had the world’s largest number of data centers, totaling 2,701, according to data gathered by Statista. Germany was the second-largest data center country, with Britain and China trailing significantly behind. Apart from its two coastal data center hubs, the United States exhibits a concentration of these facilities close to major urban centers, stretching from Atlanta to Seattle.

Energy-Efficient Initiatives and Sustainability

Data centers consume substantial amounts of electricity, contributing to carbon emissions unless powered by renewable sources. This environmental footprint raises sustainability and climate change concerns. Additionally, some data centers generate noise pollution, which can disrupt nearby residential areas. Lastly, the high demand for power in data centers can strain local power grids, potentially affecting access to electricity for surrounding communities. Addressing these concerns through energy-efficient practices, noise mitigation measures, and responsible power management is essential for data centers’ coexistence with their surroundings.

To address the escalating power consumption of data centers, industry leaders are actively pursuing sustainability measures, including new initiatives from large corporations like Amazon. This includes implementing advanced cooling technologies, such as free cooling and liquid cooling, to reduce energy consumption in temperature control systems. Additionally, data centers are adopting energy-efficient hardware and server designs, optimizing their operations to maximize performance per watt, and employing renewable energy sources like solar and wind power to reduce their carbon footprint. These initiatives help reduce operational costs and minimize environmental impact, making data centers more sustainable in the long term.

The increasing volume of data generated globally will require even more data center capacity, leading to higher energy consumption unless energy-efficient measures are in place. Secondly, environmental regulations and sustainability goals are pushing organizations to minimize their carbon emissions and energy consumption, making sustainable data center practices a competitive advantage. Lastly, as society becomes more conscious of environmental issues, customers and stakeholders are demanding greener, more sustainable data center solutions.

About the Author

Arizona native Johnathan Meade, MBA, COO of Meade Engineering in Phoenix, carries extensive corporate finance, strategy development, digital product management and early set, hands-on industry experience under his father, Meade Engineering’s original owner. Initially drawn to economics at Arizona State University, he redirected his educational path to business and finance. Johnathan then achieved his MBA at Pepperdine and began his journey through the corporate realm. Johnathan honed his financial expertise during a tenure at Charles

Schwab, where he played a pivotal role in an internal team of consultants advising on Charles Schwab’s strategic initiatives. His leadership and strategic prowess earned him recognition as an innovator within the company. In 2022, Johnathan Meade decided to return to his roots at Meade Engineering. Since then, he has assembled a team of highly experienced professionals dedicated to crafting cutting-edge designs for electrical infrastructure. These innovations provide critical electricity solutions to mission-critical facilities nationwide, solidifying Johnathan’s position as a leader in the field.

By Johnathan Meade, MBA, COO of Meade Engineering