By leveraging innovative technologies and sustainable materials, Edged aims to create data centres that not only meet current energy demands but are also prepared for future growth.

When comparing our results with LETI benchmarks (see below), this is not apparent.It is becoming clear across the industry that LETI benchmarks for MEP are likely underestimated..

Embodied carbon analysis.When reviewing the building against benchmarks for WLC, including the LETI extrapolated targets, the buildings perform well against 2020 targets.Again, the buildings hit the current GLA benchmark, albeit the façade performance is higher than the GLA expects.

However, were this building to be designed now to achieve LETI/RIBA 2030 targets further learnings need to be taken forward..The Forge vs Benchmarks – whole life carbon analysis.

Lessons Learned.

Superstructure: The platform system reduces embodied carbon.For obvious technical reasons, each client cannot be serviced separately, so each one has to be monitored separately for energy, airflow and water usage..

The existing plant was 20 years old, and at the end of its useful life.But you can’t simply replace an old plant with a new one – mechanical and electrical engineering machines are so much more advanced and efficient now so some take up less space, but others are larger due to the need to reduce energy (for example, air-handling units).

We have taken the opportunity to reconfigure the building to some extent.But in the case of the air handling units, the building was more or less built around them so it was difficult and financially unviable to remove them.