Rapid data center development is increasing the importance of energy, water and construction planning for owners and contractors delivering digital infrastructure. QTS has reported new sustainability and development metrics covering water management, energy sourcing, building standards, financing and workforce activity as the data center operator continues expanding across North America and Europe.
QTS reported a 46% year-over-year improvement in water usage effectiveness during 2025, marking the 13th consecutive year of improvement under its measure.
All new greenfield data centers commissioned during the year incorporated QTS' closed-loop cooling design. Facilities using the system are designed to require no water for cooling after becoming operational, with QTS reporting a water usage effectiveness of zero for data centers built with the design since its introduction in 2019.
QTS also reported 100% carbon-free operational electricity utilization across its facilities in 2025. The company designed all new buildings to Green Building Standards, while 26 data centers received ENERGY STAR certification during the year. New buildings also included electric vehicle charging stations.
The sustainability report identifies $24 billion in green financing secured by QTS to support construction and refinancing for more than 30 data centers.
A major development example is QTS' Cedar Rapids, Iowa, campus. The company reported a $10 billion investment in construction and development at the campus, with the project expected to support more than 2,000 construction jobs. QTS also reported an estimated annual contribution of $1.3 billion to Linn County's GDP and up to $23 million through its Community Betterment Fund.
The report also identified workforce and construction practices associated with QTS' broader development program. More than 90% of QTS employees were hired locally in 2025, with the QTS Data Center Academy providing paid training for people without prior experience.
For data center owners and construction partners, sustainability requirements increasingly affect project design, equipment selection, utility coordination, financing and long-term facility operations. QTS' reported use of closed-loop cooling, carbon-free electricity and green financing illustrates how environmental criteria are being incorporated into major data center development programs.
The reported construction employment associated with the Cedar Rapids campus also demonstrates the workforce impact that large-scale data center projects can have in local markets.
Source: QTS.
