Databank

At a Glance

Industry

Internet, Software, Hardware and Technology Services

Project Types

Engagement and Behavior Change, Goals/Targets, Supply Chain

Year

2024

Location

Summary

Nicole Mammano developed a business case for green building materials. She provided strategic recommendations to decarbonize Databank's future construction and data center builds, enabling significant reductions in embodied carbon and Scope 3 emissions.

Goals

DataBank is the leading-edge data center platform in the U.S., providing enterprises with colocation, connectivity, cloud, and managed services. The company is on track to reach its 2030 net zero goal for Scope 1 and 2 emissions. To address Scope 3, the ESG team is prioritizing the decarbonization of DataBank's supply chain and capital goods. By tackling embodied carbon through this approach, DataBank aims to enhance its resilience and reduce its overall carbon footprint.

Solutions

Nicole developed a comprehensive business case for integrating green building materials into DataBank's future construction projects. Her approach involved industry research, stakeholder interviews, and data collection on the global warming potential (GWP) and costs of green concrete and steel. This enabled her to construct a scenario analysis that assessed the financial implications of switching to green materials for two large data centers, comparing cost savings and emission reductions. Her model provided insights into a potential 18% reduction in embodied carbon, over $140,000 in cost savings, and minimal to no price increases for green concrete. Her results led to a three-phased strategic roadmap with a portfolio of initiatives and actionable next steps for procuring green materials in future construction. She also evaluated Databank's climate risk preparedness by conducting a gap analysis to strengthen overall Enterprise Risk Management (ERM). This allowed her to lay the foundations for future climate risk preparedness. Her recommendations also prepared future sustainability reporting for the TCFD-ISSB transition and assisted with the company's GRESB report.

Potential Impact

Nicole's recommendations advanced Databank's decarbonization initiatives and paved the way for a future reduction in Scope 3 emissions. Her contributions will integrate green procurement practices into the overall business strategy, positioning Databank to impact environmental and social change across the industry.

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