Communications and Media Company Reduces Energy Use and Embodied Carbon with Energy Efficient Design Standard for Data Centers
Executive summary
A large communications and media company partnered with SSC to standardize the design and construction of its critical infrastructure buildings, including data centers. Through SSC’s Energy Efficient Design (EED) service, the company gained a consistent methodology and specifications framework to incorporate sustainability, energy efficiency, and lower embodied carbon materials into every new building. This approach not only streamlines the design and construction process but also positions the company to meet its Scope 1, 2, and 3 decarbonization goals and advance progress toward its science-based targets.
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Key Findings
Standardized Sustainable Design:
SSC developed a standard process and documentation for energy-efficient, low-carbon building practices across all new facilities.Energy Efficiency Built-In:
Specifications ensure that long-term Scope 1 and 2 impacts are minimized through smart design and efficient systems.Low-Carbon Materials:
Specification language was created to guide the selection of products with multiple sustainable attributes including reduced embodied carbon.Scalable Application:
The process enables consistent sustainability integration across the construction of multiple data centers each year.Scope 3 Alignment:
Standardization allows the company to track and reduce embodied carbon in purchased goods and capital goods, advancing Scope 3 reduction goals.
Results
A standardized Energy Efficient Design (EED) process for all critical infrastructure buildings.
Specifications for energy efficiency and low embodied carbon products embedded into design standards.
Ability to scale sustainable practices across all new data centers.
Streamlined collaboration between SSC, the client, and architectural partners.
Clear pathway for reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions while aligning with science-based targets.
“SSC’s critical infrastructure design standard has transformed the way this company builds—reducing costs, cutting emissions, and accelerating sustainability goals across every new facility.”
Tad Radzinski, PE, SEP, LEED AP, SFP
President & Co-Founder, Sustainable Solutions Corporation
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As a rapidly growing global communications and media company, the client constructs numerous data centers and infrastructure buildings each year. With significant energy demand and material use tied to these facilities, the company needed a scalable and consistent approach to embed sustainability into design and construction practices. Without standardization, the risk was inconsistent performance, higher design and operating costs, and missed carbon reduction goals.
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SSC applied its Energy Efficient Design (EED) framework to establish a standard methodology for sustainable infrastructure development. This included:
Reviewing existing building drawings and design practices.
Developing specifications to maximize energy efficiency and reduce Scope 1 and 2 impacts.
Creating procurement guidance for selecting sustainable, lower embodied carbon materials to address Scope 3.
Collaborating closely with architects and design teams to embed requirements into standard drawings and specifications.
Delivering a repeatable, scalable process that ensures sustainability is integrated across every new facility.
This methodology provides the client with a strategic blueprint for growth that aligns with decarbonization goals, ensures compliance with science-based targets, and delivers long-term cost and carbon savings.
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Energy Efficient Design (EED) focuses on optimizing energy performance for a building including all systems, processes, and operations. The goal is to reduce energy consumption and costs over the life of the building. This comprehensive process uses advanced energy modeling, development of a sustainability savings register that outlines actionable Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs), and a measurement and verification plan (M&V) to verify the energy performance of the building.
