Microsoft has significantly decreased its water usage in 4 of its data centers. This has led to zero waste water production. The primary reason for this achievement is the work done by the Data Center Advanced Development or DCAD which works to reduce the resource requirements of data centers. These resources include power and water. The DCAD also works to reduce carbon emissions. One of the ways in which Microsoft has reduced water wastage is by going in for air cooling.
For its facilities in Dublin, Iowa, Washington and Virginia, the company has opted for air cooling which results in the usage of a mere 1-3% of conventional data centers.
Microsoft is targeting its back up diesel generators too. The effort to reduce these generators will happen with the company developing its Data Plants which will be data centers with on-site power generation capacity.
Microsoft is hoping that its Data Plants will also help it realize better reliability, lower emissions and reduction in costs.
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