In 2022, we were able to test one of our new carbon reduction strategies during construction of our Chicago (CHI3) data center. 78% of the concrete we used in the building included fly ash in the mix, replacing some of the Portland cement. The mix replaced from 17% to 30% of the Portland cement with fly ash, which reduced the carbon footprint of the concrete by a similar percentage. Since concrete is the single largest construction material used in our facilities, this was a significant improvement.    

Additionally, at our Frankfurt (FRA4) development, we adopted a Variable Gravel Compaction Pile method to form the main piles, whereby a pile casing is driven into the ground and filled with gravel, which is then compacted as the casing is withdrawn. This method gave us an alternative to using concrete for the construction of the piles and reused materials allowing us to simultaneously accomplish sustainability objectives for both carbon and waste reduction. We utilized a mix of materials retained from site clearance and imported recycled aggregates to achieve this, which considerably reduced the volume of concrete required to construct the building foundations and led to an associated reduction in embodied carbon at the beginning of the facility’s lifecycle.   

While our data centers contribute the largest part of CyrusOne’s environmental impact, material selection still comes into play in our office spaces as well. To contribute to increased circularity and reduce the overall impact of our offices, a variety of material choices have been made that influence sustainability.  Choosing office supplies made from recycled materials and designed for recycling is important. It is also essential to use eco-friendly cleaning products. Instead of paper cups, team members should be given reusable tumblers. The combination of our office and facility material selection efforts represents an important step towards transitioning to a more circular economy.