Empowering the Future – Part 1: Community Engagement and Sustainable Innovation in Data Centers with Rabih Bashroush

In part one of this, two-part interview, Ada Infrastructure’s ESG and Sustainability Lead Joyce Dickerson sits down with Professor Rabih Bashroush, Director of the Enterprise Computing (EC) Research Lab at the University of East London (UEL) to introduce the EC Lab, the impact of its work on local communities, and the AI Infrastructure Talent Development Program (AITDP) that Ada Infrastructure is working with UEL to roll-out.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and the EC lab?

Sure. I have a couple of hats. I'm a professor at the University of East London and Director of the Enterprise Computing Research Lab. Our primary focus is on digital infrastructure with a particular interest in sustainability. The research group I lead has four main areas of focus:

Advancing the State of Digital Infrastructure Sustainability: We work on various research programs funded by the government, the European Commission, and various companies, including hyperscale data center operators. One of our significant projects is called EURECA, funded by the European Commission. Through this project, we have assessed energy consumption challenges and opportunities across more than 300 data centers in Europe. Back in 2017, we estimated that European data centers consumed around 130 terawatt hours of energy. Given the growth in digital infrastructure and the advent of AI, this number has likely increased significantly.

Policy Development: We collaborate with local authorities and governments in the UK, Ireland, Europe, and beyond to provide independent data and conduct studies. Our goal is to help governments understand what interventions are required to create a level playing field and incentivize more sustainable practices in the industry.

Industry Collaboration: We work closely with industry partners, including companies like Ada, to address skills development, research challenges, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies in digital infrastructure. This collaboration is crucial for addressing both immediate and long-term staffing needs in the data center industry.

Public Awareness: We engage in public awareness campaigns to educate people about the environmental impact of their digital habits. For example, a significant portion of the energy consumed by data centers is driven by activities like social media and video streaming, rather than critical applications like healthcare or precision agriculture. We work with media channels such as the BBC to create documentaries and other educational content to help the public understand the environmental footprint of their digital activities.

In addition to these areas, I am heavily involved in the development of standards for IT infrastructure through organizations like CEN/CENELEC/ETSI and ISO/IEC. My work in this area has influenced several international policies and legislation, including initiatives related to Green Public Procurement (GPP), the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), and the EcoDesign Directive.

This multifaceted approach allows us to tackle the challenges of sustainability in digital infrastructure from multiple angles, ensuring that we not only advance the state of technology but also create a supportive policy environment and raise public awareness.

How does the EC Lab help local communities understand the benefits of data centers?

A significant part of our work involves educating local communities about the benefits and realities of data centers. The perception of data centers is often skewed, with many people viewing them as energy-hungry villains. However, we aim to shift this narrative by emphasizing the role of end-user demand in driving data center energy consumption.

We run numerous programs and collaborate with media to raise awareness about the environmental impact of digital habits. For instance, a large portion of the energy consumed by data centers is used to store and process social media content and videos, rather than essential services like healthcare or precision agriculture. By educating the public, we help them understand that data centers are built to meet their demand.

One effective method we use is evening talks where we engage directly with the community. During these sessions, we ask attendees to reflect on their digital habits. For example, we highlight how the average person takes thousands of photos with their smartphone annually but only revisits a small fraction of them. The energy required to store these photos in the cloud is substantial. In the UK alone, storing unnecessary photos and videos consumes enough energy to power a city like Liverpool for a year.

Additionally, we conduct similar awareness campaigns about email usage. People often send emails with large attachments or reply-all unnecessarily, leading to massive storage requirements and energy consumption. By making people aware of these impacts, we empower them to make more informed decisions about their digital behavior.

We also work closely with local governments and authorities to provide independent data and conduct studies on energy consumption. This helps create policies that promote sustainable practices and address the root causes of high energy consumption in data centers. Our collaborations aim to provide a holistic view of the digital ecosystem, emphasizing that data centers are integral to supporting our digital lifestyles, not separate entities.

Through these efforts, we hope to build a more informed public that recognizes the interconnectedness of their digital habits and the energy consumed by data centers. This awareness can drive more responsible usage patterns and support for sustainable data center practices.

Ada Infrastructure is partnering with UEL on an AI Infrastructure Talent Development Program (AITDP) this year aimed at training professionals in the community to prepare them for data center operations jobs. Could you tell us more about the objectives of this program and how it's designed to benefit the community?

The primary objective of the AITDP is to help bridge the talent gap in the data center industry while simultaneously addressing unemployment in certain areas. The data center industry is experiencing rapid growth, and there is a significant demand for skilled professionals. This program is designed to meet the immediate need for trained personnel in data center operations. By providing targeted training, we aim to equip participants with the necessary skills to fill these roles quickly.

The program targets a diverse range of participants, including ex-military personnel, job changers from industries affected by automation and AI, and fresh graduates. We are particularly focused on attracting more females into the industry to grow the talent pool within the workforce.

The curriculum offers a thorough introduction to the data center industry and covers a wide array of topics such as the different types of data centers and their components; cloud computing and AI, and their role in data centers; mechanical and electrical infrastructure crucial for data center operations; energy consumption patterns and sustainability practices; and data center operations, maintenance, and the importance of reliability and resiliency.

Participants will receive practical training on the latest technologies and best practices in the industry. This hands-on experience is critical for preparing them for immediate employment in data center operations.

The program is designed to benefit the local community in several ways. First, it provides job opportunities for unemployed or underemployed individuals by equipping them with skills that are in high demand. Second, it helps to build a local talent pool, reducing the need for companies to look outside the community for skilled workers. This, in turn, supports the local economy.

Beyond immediate job placements, the program aims to foster long-term career development. By upskilling individuals from various backgrounds, the program ensures a steady pipeline of talent for the data center industry’s future needs. This ongoing development is essential for maintaining a robust and skilled workforce capable of supporting the industry’s growth.

Our collaboration with Ada Infrastructure is a crucial aspect of the program. By working closely with industry partners, we ensure that the training provided is relevant and up-to-date with current industry standards and practices. This partnership helps bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, making the training more effective and directly applicable to real-world scenarios.

Stay tuned for part two, where we will explore the evolving landscape of data centers, energy consumption, and the future of digital infrastructure.