GREEN DATA CENTERS: MERGING IT INNOVATION WITH ENERGY-EFFICIENT COOLING AND RENEWABLE POWER

Abstract

Data centers are responsible for approximately 1-2% of global electricity consumption, with projections indicating significant growth in the coming years. This research examines the convergence of three critical green data center development aspects: IT hardware innovations, advanced cooling technologies, and renewable energy integration. The study analyzes performance metrics, return on investment scenarios, and operational trade-offs while highlighting emerging solutions such as ARM-based processors, immersion cooling, and hydrogen-based energy storage. Results demonstrate that modern green data centers can achieve Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) values of 1.1 or lower while reducing operational expenditures by 25-40% compared to traditional facilities. The research concludes with policy recommendations and future directions for sustainable data center operations in the context of increasing computational demands and environmental constraints.