Kao Data has won the ASHRAE Technology Award for Industrial Facilities and Processes, which is awarded for outstanding achievement in the design and operation of energy efficient buildings, across the global reach of the ASHRAE institution. 

Paul Finch, interim CEO and COO, Kao Data, who was presented with the award by ASHRAE president Darryl K. Boyce during the ASHRAE Winter conference and AHR Expo, Orlando, FL, said, “As a member and contributor within ASHRAE, it is immensely gratifying to be acknowledged and awarded first place in this broad category. At a time when our market is maturing and continuing to grow exponentially, the need to develop sustainable data centres is essential. Energy, water and natural resources are at a premium and as an industry we must all bear the responsibility to address sustainability and place it at the top of the corporate agenda.”

The award acknowledges the design, engineering and execution in the development of the Kao Data site as the UK’s first 100% free-cooling wholesale colocation campus. Its voluntary registration to accredited industry associations and ISO standards are highlighted through its previous achievement of BREEAM ‘Excellence’, which assessed the buildings’ energy efficiency, environmental, ecological and sustainability competency, amongst other key benchmarks. Also notable is the complete omission of the use of refrigerants as a cooling medium, eliminating the associated global warming potential.

At a time when the Uptime Institute Annual Data Centre Survey 2019 reports operational averages of PUE >1.6, Kao Data says that it continues to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability through its use of 100% renewable energy and its ultra-low PUE >1.2, even at low IT utilisation. 

“We congratulate each of ASHRAE’s Honors and Awards recipients for their leadership in advancing the future of our industry and our Society,” said Boyce.