CyrusOne Sustainability: Why Are Native Plants Important?

Our data centers are widely distributed, exposing them to a variety of climates. Considering and aligning with the climate we are operating in is vital to our success. The climate can help us determine the infrastructure and equipment that is best for a given facility. For example, many of our Texas facilities are in high water-stress regions. Switching from evaporative cooling to water-free cooling systems allows us to relieve some of the stress we place on the local communities and ecosystem. Acknowledging the unique needs of this region also reduces the risk we may face to our operations should water use be restricted in the future.

Habitat planning is another activity that requires alignment with the regional climate and environmental conditions. Our data centers are relatively compact, leaving little undeveloped space around the properties. Maintaining a secure perimeter also limits some plant choices so that they don’t restrict visibility. Despite these restrictions, there is still an opportunity to use the land surrounding our data centers productively through the establishment of native habitats. However, habitat planning is not homogenous across all our facilities and requires adapting to regional conditions to ensure our plans are successful. To increase the habitats’ chances of success, we have chosen to plant native species.

Native plants are plants that occur naturally in a region in which they evolved. This means native plants are adapted to the regional environmental conditions such as average precipitation, amount of sunlight, and soil composition. Including native plants at our facilities, such as our data center in Allen, Texas, pictured below, provides synergistic value to both the environment and CyrusOne. Below we feature just a few benefits of native plants that have helped influence our habitat planning.

• Water Conservation: Native plants are adapted to the timing and amounts of precipitation in the region in which they evolved. They have evolved mechanisms that allow them to conserve their water during times of the year when it’s necessary. This increases their survivability and decreases their need for outside watering. This is especially important in our high water-stress regions where we want to avoid using local water sources.
• Pest & Pollution Control: Native plants are adapted to the local pests and often have a natural resistance, so they don’t require the use of pesticides thus reducing the time and effort involved in pest control. They also can be deep-rooted and provide soil stabilization. Both activities can prevent pollution in the form of sedimentation or runoff of pesticides.
• Symbiotic Relationships: Native plants attract native pollinators and wildlife. Existing pollinators and wildlife may not get the same benefits from non-native plants as food sources. Native plants ensure that they will be of use to native wildlife because they have evolved together.

At our central North Texas facilities, we have introduced native species such as desert willows, vitex trees, Turk’s cap, and Lindheimer’s muhly. These species are adapted to Texas’s winter storms and drought-like conditions in the summer. They provide services to their environment such as erosion prevention, food, and pollen sources for local wildlife, and water conservation during periods of drought. They are considered Texas “native superstars” and are featured at multiple Texas facilities. As we progress towards our sustainability goals of establishing improved habitats at all our facilities, we look forward to exploring all the benefits native plants have to offer to each region.