In this high-tech world, data centers are essential. Which may explain why researchers are predicting that the U.S. data center industry will grow to nearly $289 billion by 2027.

Because data centers rely on sophisticated cooling systems that require a lot of power, this expected growth also means even more energy consumption—and that could have a profound impact on the environment.

From Energy Hogs to Environmental Champions

Like it or not, data centers are among the biggest of the so-called “energy hogs.” That’s because they consume 3% of the world’s electric supply and are responsible for nearly 2% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—a number that’s expected to increase to as much as 7%.

Moreover, data centers consume 10 to 50 times more energy per floor space than a standard commercial office building.

So, the onus is on data center owners and managers to do all they can to maintain efficient and effective operations while also reducing their carbon footprint.

It can be overwhelming to put a strategy in place to reduce such a large carbon footprint. So, if you’re looking to reduce your energy consumption—and your carbon footprint—there are two practical steps you can take to maximize energy savings and lessen your environmental impact.

Read the full blog post here to learn more.