Our energy-saving data centers

Google’s secure data centers are some of the most energy efficient in the world. Each year we save millions of dollars on energy costs, and we use renewable energy whenever we can.

Renewable energy

1. How we purchase renewable energy

We buy renewable energy using a contract called a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) – a long-term commitment to buy all of the power that a green energy provider can produce.

How we purchase renewable energy

2. Greening the grid

Because we must use the grid to power our data centers, we’re helping to make it greener by pursuing Power Purchase Agreements that add new clean energy sources to the mix.

Greening the grid

Inside the data center

1. Data center efficiency

Through efficiency innovations, Google has cut the amount of energy its data centers need by 50%.

Our innovations in data center efficiency

2. Data and security

The data in our facilities is protected by multiple levels of security – from physical security on the premises to complex data encryption.

Keeping data secure

Equipment lifecycle

1. Reduce

To the greatest extent possible, we source materials locally when we build out our facilities.

Sourcing local materials

2. Reuse

When we retire a server in a data center, we repurpose its components as much as possible to avoid buying new materials.

What equipment we reuse

3. Recycle

If we can’t reuse a component, we work with recyclers and resellers whom we know will dispose of the materials responsibly.

How we recycle

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