Coalition including BRE launched to make data centres greener

Nine built environment and green finance organisations have teamed up to launch a coalition which aims to make AI data centres more sustainable. 

The global initiative, which includes the UK’s Building Research Establishment, includes organisations specialising in building certification, performance benchmarking, green finance and sustainability standards.

The Greening AI Data Centres Coalition (GADCC) aims to set clear and credible standards for sustainable data centre development, defining what ‘green’ actually means for data centres and cutting through “greenwashing”.

Data centres currently consume roughly 2% of global electricity and the International Energy Agency projects demand will more than double by 2030.

These projects also demand huge amounts of water, intensifying pressure on these resources in some areas.

In Texas, data centres are estimated to have used 48 billion gallons of water in 2025, which is forecast to rise to 399 billion gallons a year by 2030.

The coalition said that unchecked expansion of data centres risked “straining local grids, driving up consumer energy costs and crowding out renewable-energy access for other users”.

Its initial programme of work will focus on developing an internationally aligned framework of environmental and social performance standards, and supporting the development of green finance instruments for data centre investment that meet these standards.

“BRE is pleased to be part of the Greening AI Data Centres Coalition, bringing together organisations with shared expertise across the built environment,” said James Fisher, head of strategic partnerships, Building Research Establishment.

“As AI infrastructure continues to expand, collaborative approaches grounded in recognised standards such as BREEAM will be essential to support more sustainable outcomes for buildings, infrastructure and the communities they serve.”