NEWS | Singapore sets new data center sustainability standards

Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has launched a sustainability standard for tropical data centers. The standard suggests operating data centers at higher temperatures to reduce energy consumption for cooling. It was announced by Dr Janil Puthucheary, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information. The standard has already been tested by Digital Realty in its Singapore facilities. The IMDA’s standard provides guidelines on gradually increasing operating temperatures to 26°C and above, with potential energy savings of up to two to five percent for every 1°C increase. The standard may be incorporated into the Building & Construction Authority’s Green Mark scheme. Singapore has also joined the Green Software Foundation and European Green Digital Coalition as a supporting partner. The launch of the standard is part of Singapore’s Digital Connectivity Blueprint, emphasizing sustainability in the country’s digital infrastructure. The government aims to chart a roadmap towards net-zero data centers powered by renewable energy in the long term.