Environmental impact of data centers: how to reduce it

Data centers: an invisible but energy-hungry pillar of the digital world

In an increasingly connected world, data centers are the silent pillars of our digital lives. Whether it is data storage, the cloud, SaaS software or simple email, everything passes through these infrastructures. Yet their environmental footprint remains largely underestimated.

According to the joint study by ADEME and ARCEP published in February 2025, data centers alone accounted for 16% of the total electricity consumption of the digital sector in France, a share set to grow without decisive action. This consumption generates significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mainly linked to the continuous power supply and constant cooling of equipment.

Beyond electricity, other externalities come into play: water consumption for cooling (up to 5 million liters per day for some centers), land take for new sites, and noise pollution in peri-urban areas.

This situation calls for a structural and immediate response. Far from being immaterial, digital technology relies on physical infrastructures that are extremely resource-intensive.

Toward more sober data centers: regulatory frameworks and practical solutions

Awareness is growing, driven in particular by legislation. The REEN law (Réduction de l’Empreinte Environnementale du Numérique, the French law on reducing the environmental footprint of digital technology), adopted in 2021, for example requires data center operators to publish energy and environmental performance indicators. It also imposes transparency requirements on local authorities and public bodies in their hosting choices.

Another key initiative: the Observatory of the environmental impacts of digital technology, launched by ADEME and ARCEP at the end of 2024. Its mission is to centralize, publish and improve the reliability of data on the footprint of digital infrastructures across France.

On the technical side, several levers have already proven their worth:

• High energy-efficiency cooling, using air or liquid immersion
• Server virtualization, for better use of physical resources
• Distributed storage and edge computing, limiting massive data transfers
• Energy optimization algorithms, based on AI and machine learning

Certain certifications also strengthen the drive toward sobriety, such as ISO 50001 (energy management system) or signing up to the European Code of Conduct for Data Centres. 

Finally, the economic lever plays a crucial role. Better energy performance reduces the electricity bill, optimizes equipment utilization rates and improves the durability of facilities. On top of this, public funding is available through ADEME or Bpifrance for responsible digital transition projects.

How businesses can act: strategy, IT choices and responsibility

While data center operators are on the front line, the businesses that use them also have a decisive role to play. As customers, they can steer demand toward more sustainable infrastructures and rethink their own digital strategy.

First lever: choice of hosting. Many companies are migrating to "green" providers that have made carbon neutrality commitments or use renewable energy. It is essential to ask your providers about their energy performance indicators (PUE, WUE), their purchasing policy and their impact reduction plans.

Second lever: optimizing IT usage. Pooling servers, reducing unnecessary storage, favoring responsible archiving and controlling data redundancy are all practices that ease the pressure on infrastructures.

Third lever: integrating IT into the CSR strategy. By including environmental criteria in IT tenders, revising purchasing policies to include refurbished equipment and raising employee awareness of sober digital practices, companies are making a strategic shift. It is also a matter of brand image and regulatory compliance.

Finally, extending the lifespan of equipment, reusing or refurbishing in-house servers and investing in the digital circular economy are concrete actions within easy reach.

The role of Leasetic: supporting responsible digital sobriety

At Leasetic, we believe it is possible to combine technological innovation with environmental responsibility. As an expert partner in financing, IT fleet management and equipment revaluation, we help companies optimize their digital strategy while reducing their carbon footprint.

Our integrated approach enables you:

• to finance sustainable IT projects,
• to extend the lifespan of your equipment,
• and to factor environmental issues into your technology choices.

Would you like to begin a transition toward more sober digital infrastructures? Contact the Leasetic experts: we support you at every stage of your responsible approach.