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Australia’s first data centre with carbon neutral corporate operations
Wed, 13th Feb 2019
FYI, this story is more than a year old

NEXTDC has announced that its corporate operations have been certified carbon neutral under the Australian Government's National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS), administered by the Australian Federal Department of Environment and Energy.   Forming a new strategic partnership with Qantas, NEXTDC will source carbon offset credits from Qantas Future Planet to meet ongoing compliance requirements under the NCOS. Now in its twelfth-year, Qantas Future Planet is the world's largest airline carbon offset program.

Qantas Future Planet supports carbon offset projects such as fire management with Indigenous landowners in the North Kimberley, supporting rainforest communities in Papua New Guinea, and protecting more than 7,000 hectares of Tasmanian wilderness.   NEXTDC also plans to make available an NCOS-compliant colocation opt-in program to customers who are committed to offsetting their carbon emissions in NEXTDC facilities, with an end goal of customers also achieving 100% carbon neutral operations when they colocate at any of the data centers.   NEXTDC has implemented numerous innovations that drive leadership through sustainable engineering outcomes that drive more efficient use of energy across their entire footprint, showcasing how companies can be engineered to simultaneously achieve positive outcomes for both the environment and their bottom line.    NEXTDC CEO Craig Scroggie said “NEXTDC supports the science of climate change and we're not afraid of using that conviction to show others how our business interests can help create a better future for all.

NEXTDC build and operate a national footprint of Australia's most energy efficient data centers which serves as a reminder that organisations can be engineered to both support the environment and improve business efficiencies.   Qantas group executive Andrew Parker says, “The Qantas Future Planet program is more than carbon offsetting – it's about connecting and collaborating with sustainability leaders. Together with our customers, we've offset more than three million tonnes of carbon at more than 40 certified offset projects around the world. We're thrilled NEXTDC is joining our network of leaders.”   Data Center providers are well positioned to leverage renewable energy technology, which allows NEXTDC and the industry at large, to meet and exceed Australia's greenhouse gas emission reduction target of 26% to 28% from 2005 levels under the Paris Agreement.    NEXTDC achieved a National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) 5-star rating for energy efficiency at its M1 facility in Melbourne and 4.5 stars for its S1 facility in Sydney.   NEXTDC's second-generation data centers will supposedly deliver even higher levels of energy efficiency, with B2 Brisbane, M2 Melbourne and S2 Sydney showcasing engineering never that will better support business, the environment and long term needs.