Growth in the data center industry isn’t just expanding, it’s exploding. The number of U.S. data centers nearly quadrupled from 2010 to 2024, and demand is climbing with technologies like AI and cloud computing. For QTS, growth isn’t just about scaling up but about doing it responsibly. That’s why we developed a model for responsible expansion that empowers digital infrastructure growth, community engagement and environmental stewardship.

We believe meeting the growth ahead requires discipline, accountability and stewardship of the environments and communities we call home.

A MODEL FOR RESPONSIBLE DATA CENTER GROWTH 

So, what does that look like in practice? From our perspective, the solution needed to focus on water-free cooling, carbon-free energy sourcing and making a positive impact in communities.

1. Leading Water-Free Cooling

Many data centers rely on evaporative cooling systems, which require large volumes of water to regulate temperatures in data halls and support customer IT infrastructure. Understanding this was not sustainable, we knew we needed a new approach. Enter water-free cooling, a closed-loop system that, once operational, does not withdraw, consume or discharge water and has saved 1.5 billion gallons of water in 2024 alone.

For perspective, that’s enough water to fill 2,271 Olympic-sized swimming pools. We’ve now implemented water-free cooling across all our new data centers and some existing facilities as well.

And because accountability requires measurement, we proved the effectiveness of our water-free cooling system by achieving a 2024 Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) of 0 in our water-free cooling data centers. If this system were implemented across the industry, we could collectively save trillions of gallons of water a year.

2. Prioritizing Carbon-Free Energy & Reinventing Energy Partnerships 

Rightly so, much of the discussion around energy management focuses on data centers’ impact on power grids. At QTS, we acknowledge this by combining a commitment to source the maximum amount of carbon-free energy, sustainable building design and community partnerships that deliver clean energy locally.

In 2024, we achieved 100% carbon-free operational electricity across our facilities, driving a 14.2% year-over-year improvement. We pursued LEED certification for every new build, and 77% of our eligible facilities received Energy Star benchmark scores.

QTS works closely with utility companies to identify innovative and sustainable ways to generate and secure power that best serves our customers, the community and the environment. We implement long-term provider partnerships and secure electrical service agreements for large-scale campuses years before commissioning. Often, infrastructure investments facilitate improved reliability and modernization of the power grid, ultimately benefiting residents.

As demand for data centers grows, QTS also explores unique solutions with utility partners to keep energy sustainable and secure. We’re investing in renewable projects like solar and wind, developing waste heat recovery systems to capture and reuse heat to support nearby communities and pushing into next-generation options such as geothermal energy, which taps heat from deep within the Earth.

 QTS is investing in several unique partnerships, including:

• Groningen, Netherlands: QTS works with WarmteStad, a local organization reducing waste by redistributing energy, to distribute residual heat from the QTS Groningen campus to the surrounding community.

• Oregon, USA: In 2024, QTS helped enable the Tower Solar project, a new 120 MWac (166MWdc) solar energy installation in Morrow County, Oregon. Leveraging Portland General Electric’s Green Future Impact (GFI) program, the project will deliver carbon-free energy to Portland General Electric’s grid.

• Virginia, USA: Solar Access Henrico—a partnership between Henrico County, QTS and Dominion Energy Solutions—provides qualified residents with free solar panels, making clean energy accessible to families who need it most and helping them significantly lower their energy bills.

3. Supporting Community Prosperity 

Responsible growth isn’t just about managing energy and water; it’s about supporting the people and places that make it possible. For us, being responsible community stewards means being a good neighbor. From collaborating with community members and local officials from the start of a project to supporting charitable organizations and establishing local workforce training initiatives, our goal is to make a positive impact to each community from day one.

A new QTS facility means an influx of construction, manufacturing and technology jobs and investment in workforce development programs in the locations we live, work and operate in, creating pathways to high-quality and high-paying technology careers for residents.

As the digital infrastructure leader, we understand that our role goes far beyond building and operating the world’s most advanced data centers. In 2024, QTS team members logged over 15,000 volunteer hours across more than 380 charitable organizations and made $7.5 million in charitable donations.

We will continue to advance our goal of having a positive impact on those who need our services, while remaining stewards of the environment and communities we call home. QTS is leading the way in responsible expansion and operations, but we can’t do it alone.

If we come together as an industry and commit to growing thoughtfully, we can do more than change narratives and perceptions around data centers. We can deliver real, positive value to the communities where we operate.

And that’s a goal everyone can get behind.