BRE plays a leading role in new global coalition setting sustainability standards for AI data centres

As artificial intelligence accelerates demand for digital infrastructure, BRE is working alongside global partners to establish clear, credible benchmarks for sustainable data centre development through the Greening AI Data Centres Coalition (GADCC).

The coalition brings together nine of the world’s leading built environment, sustainability and finance organisations in response to the rapid global growth of AI-driven data centres and the increasing pressures these facilities place on energy systems and networks, water resources and local communities.

Alongside BRE, founding members include the Climate Bonds Initiative, the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA), the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC).

Together, the coalition combines expertise in building science, sustainability certification, performance benchmarking and green finance to address one of the fastest-growing and most resource-intensive building types worldwide.

A growing challenge for the built environment

AI data centres now rank among the world’s fastest-growing categories of buildings. Cities and regions across the globe face increasing concerns about their high electricity demand, growing water use, impacts on grid capacity and utilities, noise, and limited long-term employment benefits.

Data centres currently account for an estimated 1.5–2% of global electricity consumption, with the International Energy Agency projecting that demand will more than doubling by 2030. Their water footprint is also increasing rapidly, with some large facilities using as much water as a small city. In areas already facing water stress or electricity constraints, poorly planned expansion places additional pressure on infrastructure, increases costs for consumers and risks crowding out access to renewable energy.

As investor interest in “green” data centres grows, inconsistent definitions and limited transparency make it difficult to distinguish genuinely high-performing assets from those making unsubstantiated sustainability claims.

The GADCC will address this challenge by developing clear, credible and internationally aligned sustainability benchmarks for AI data centres and is initially focusing on two priorities:

• Developing common sustainability criteria covering environmental and social performance standards for data centres including energy and water use, carbon emissions, waste, biodiversity and impacts on communities
• Supporting the development of credible green finance instruments, including green bonds and sustainability-linked loans, for data centre investment that meet the coalition’s standards.

By linking performance standards with finance, the coalition helps direct capital towards data centres that reduce emissions, protect natural resources and support long-term environmental and economic resilience.

BRE’s role and expertise

BRE brings independent research capability, building science expertise and long experience in performance-based standards to the coalition. Through its work across buildings and infrastructure — including BREEAM, the world’s leading sustainability assessment methodology — BRE supports the development of benchmarks that are practical, rigorous and grounded in real-world performance.

James Fisher, Head of Strategic Partnerships at BRE, says: “BRE is pleased to be part of the Greening AI Data Centres Coalition, bringing together organisations with shared expertise across the built environment. As AI infrastructure continues to expand, collaborative approaches grounded in recognised standards such as BREEAM are essential to support more sustainable outcomes for buildings, infrastructure and the communities they serve.”

BRE will support the implementation of agreed core metrics into BREEAM to facilitate the wider adoption of greener data centre projects. The ambition is for the founding members to agree a metric set that can sit within the wider system of green building certification frameworks, improving how data centres are designed, built and operated, translating benchmarks into measurable performance improvements throughout their lifetime.

A coordinated global response

While AI data centre growth is global, coalition members recognise that sustainable solutions must reflect local conditions, including climate, water availability, grid capacity and community needs.

By aligning standards internationally while enabling regional application, the coalition supports data centre development that is resilient, investable and acceptable to host communities over the long term. Across the partnership, there is a shared commitment to shifting the market from a “build fast” mindset to a “build right” approach, embedding sustainability, resilience and social impact from the outset.

Open to collaboration

The Greening AI Data Centres Coalition remains open to additional partners, including investors, data centre owners and operators, and climate and water advocacy organisations.

By expanding collaboration across the value chain, the coalition accelerates credible action and helps ensure that the infrastructure powering artificial intelligence supports climate objectives, protects communities and contributes to a more sustainable built environment.