Measuring Long-Term Data Center Sustainability

September 17, 2026

Melissa Helphingstine, PMP, Vice President and Consulting Division Manager, discusses the growing emphasis on data center operational performance and why existing sustainability frameworks may already provide a roadmap for the future.

As data centers continue to grow in size, number, and importance, questions about their long-term impacts are becoming more prominent. Policymakers, utilities, developers, and surrounding communities are increasingly focused on how these facilities affect energy demand, water resources, and grid reliability over time. The City of Chicago’s Sustainable Data Centers Report, the Mayor’s recent actions to pause new data center development within Chicago, Governor Pritzker’s pause on new tax incentive agreements, and ongoing discussions surrounding the proposed POWER Act in the Illinois General Assembly all reflect this growing interest in understanding the operational impacts of data centers long after construction is complete.

Having spent much of my career helping organizations measure performance, manage complex programs, and navigate evolving stakeholder expectations, I have seen how sustainability discussions often mature over time. The initial focus tends to be on planning and implementation, but eventually the conversation shifts to long-term performance and measurable results. Data centers appear to be reaching a similar point today.

The conversation is beginning to shift beyond development and construction and toward long-term operational performance. Anyone who has managed a complex facility understands that performance evolves over time. Equipment ages, operating conditions change, technologies advance, and systems that once operated efficiently require maintenance and optimization to continue delivering results. Data centers are no different.

At the heart of the conversation is a simple question: how can data centers demonstrate sustainable performance over the long term? Answering that requires a closer look at the operational metrics that define performance day to day such as:
At the heart of the conversation is a simple question: how can data centers demonstrate sustainable performance over the long term? Answering that requires a closer look at the operational metrics that define performance day to day such as:
At the heart of the conversation is a simple question: how can data centers demonstrate sustainable performance over the long term? Answering that requires a closer look at the operational metrics that define performance day to day such as:
At the heart of the conversation is a simple question: how can data centers demonstrate sustainable performance over the long term? Answering that requires a closer look at the operational metrics that define performance day to day such as:
At the heart of the conversation is a simple question: how can data centers demonstrate sustainable performance over the long term? Answering that requires a closer look at the operational metrics that define performance day to day such as:

What stands out to me is that these are not new challenges. Manufacturers, wastewater treatment facilities, and other highly regulated industries have spent decades developing systems to monitor performance, manage environmental impacts, document compliance, and improve operations. Increasingly, data centers appear to be entering a similar stage of maturity.

Whether shaped by the POWER Act, local ordinances, voluntary reporting programs, or a combination of approaches, there is growing interest in understanding how facilities perform long after construction is complete. For data center owners and operators, that may mean sustainability is increasingly measured by operational results rather than design intentions alone. Energy consumption, water use, peak demand management, emissions, and transparency may become just as important as decisions made during siting, design, and construction.

One of the reasons I find this discussion so compelling is that many of the themes emerging in the City of Chicago’s Sustainable Data Centers Report and the proposed POWER Act already exist within an established framework: LEED Operations & Maintenance (O+M): Data Centers. The POWER Act includes provisions related to energy reporting, water-use reporting, water resource planning, and greater transparency around the operational impacts of large data centers. Similarly, LEED O+M: Data Centers encourages facility operators to establish formal management practices, continuously monitor performance, and track resource consumption over time.

If the goal is greater transparency and accountability throughout the life of a data center, the industry does not need to start from scratch. LEED O+M: Data Centers already includes provisions that align closely with many of the operational priorities emerging in today’s sustainability discussions, including:

Water Efficiency

As concerns grow around water consumption, LEED O+M places significant emphasis on measuring water use, identifying opportunities for reduction, and implementing ongoing water management strategies.

For data centers that rely on water-based cooling systems, this means understanding where water is consumed, tracking performance over time, identifying abnormal usage patterns, and evaluating opportunities to reduce water intensity while maintaining operational reliability. As policymakers place greater focus on water resources, these practices may become increasingly important indicators of sustainable operations.

Source: U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED O+M: Data Centers, Water Efficiency credits (Building-Level Water Metering, Water Performance Improvement, Water Management Program).

Cooling System Performance and Ongoing Optimization

Cooling systems represent one of the largest operational energy loads within a data center. LEED O+M encourages regular assessment of HVAC and mechanical systems through commissioning, performance monitoring, and continuous optimization.

For data centers, this aligns closely with efforts to improve cooling efficiency, manage airflow, optimize rack temperatures, reduce energy waste, and adapt to changing computing demands. The objective is not simply to install efficient equipment, but to ensure those systems continue performing as intended years after commissioning.

Source: U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED O+M: Data Centers, Energy & Atmosphere credits (Existing Building Commissioning, Ongoing Commissioning, Energy Efficiency Best Management Practices).

Sustainable Purchasing and Equipment Lifecycle Management

Facility performance is also influenced by the purchasing decisions made throughout the life of a building. Equipment eventually reaches the end of its useful life, technologies evolve, and replacement decisions affect both operational efficiency and environmental impact.

LEED O+M encourages organizations to adopt procurement policies that consider energy performance, lifecycle impacts, resource consumption, and sustainability objectives. For data centers, this can influence decisions involving servers, cooling equipment, backup power systems, batteries, lighting, controls, and other operational assets that are routinely upgraded over time.

Source: U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED O+M: Data Centers, Materials & Resources credits (Purchasing Policy and Sustainable Procurement requirements).

Looking ahead, as data centers become larger consumers of electricity and water, it is reasonable to expect increased scrutiny of how they perform five, ten, or even twenty years after commissioning. The conversation is steadily moving beyond what facilities are designed to do and toward what they actually achieve throughout their operational life.

From my perspective, one of the most encouraging aspects of this conversation is that much of the framework needed to address these emerging expectations already exists within established operational sustainability programs such as LEED O+M: Data Centers. Continuous measurement, performance monitoring, resource management, and operational accountability have long been recognized as essential elements of high-performing facilities.

As expectations continue to evolve, organizations that embrace these practices will likely be better positioned to demonstrate not only compliance, but also long-term operational resilience and sustainable performance. If your organization is exploring ways to strengthen operational accountability, sustainability reporting, or performance management programs, contact Melissa.

Measuring Long-Term Data Center Sustainability

About the Author

Melissa Helphingstine, PMP

Melissa’s expertise is the result of over 20 years of experience working alongside clients to execute their strategic initiatives and manage stakeholders. At her core, Melissa is a sustainability professional. Her experience is rooted in program management: energy program design and benchmarking; portfolio balancing and optimization; environmental policy, sustainable solutions, contract procurement and negotiations; regulatory compliance; and organizational change management. Melissa values transparency and open communication, which serves her well in delivering effective solutions for her clients.