The award, given at the REITworld 2018 annual conference in San Francisco, honors Nareit member companies that have produced superior, measurable results from the implementation of sustainable business practices.
Digital Realty has also been recognized by the U.S. EPA for its sustainability leadership, ranking among the top 30 green power users in the technology and telecom industries, and was recently named a 2018 Green Lease Leader by the Institute for Market Transformation and the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Alliance at the BOMA Expo.
Digital Realty has executed contracts to procure 184 megawatts of renewable energy annually. This will reduce the company’s carbon footprint by approximately 536,000 metric tons per year. The environmental benefits from this agreement will have an impact comparable to taking 114,000 cars off the road each year, equivalent to the energy needs of more than 57,000 homes per year.
“We are honored to be recognized by the worldwide representative voice for the REIT industry two years in a row,” said Digital Realty Chief Executive Officer A. William Stein. “As the largest data center provider in the world, we view it as our duty to prioritize and champion environmental stewardship and responsible business practices, and we will continue to empower our customers to reach their renewable energy goals through our rapidly expanding sustainability strategies and solutions.”
Digital Realty Senior Director of Sustainability Aaron Binkley added, “The best way to enact change is to lead by example, which is why we’re focused on powering our global portfolio with one hundred percent renewable energy. Our efforts are one piece of the puzzle, as we work with our customers, suppliers, and employees to scale our renewable energy efforts and sustainability initiatives to reduce our overall environmental impact.”
