In a move that could set a new standard for environmental responsibility in the data center industry, construction has begun on a cutting-edge facility in Mesa, Arizona. The 210,000-square-foot center, being built by Haydon and powered by Edged Energy, promises to save 94 million gallons of water annually and significantly reduce energy consumption compared to traditional data centers.

The facility, located at 8811 E. Warner Road, will serve the growing tech industry in the Southwest while minimizing its impact on the region's strained water and power resources. It will utilize ThermalWorks' ultra-efficient waterless cooling technology to support high-density artificial intelligence loads without consuming a single gallon of water.

Justin Newman, Partner and Senior Vice President of the Building Division at Haydon, hailed the project as an exciting step forward for sustainable construction. "We're at the forefront of blending cutting-edge innovation with sustainable practices," Newman said. "By partnering with Edged to prioritize energy efficiency and water conservation, we're not only addressing environmental concerns but also supporting the rapid, dynamic growth of the Valley's tech ecosystem. It's a unique opportunity to push the boundaries of what's possible in construction, ensuring that our work today contributes to a more sustainable and technologically advanced future for the region."

The center is expected to deliver 36 MW of critical load capacity to the East Valley's burgeoning digital economy while using 74% less overhead energy than conventional data centers. This comes as the industry faces growing scrutiny for its massive water and power usage, with traditional data centers placing immense strain on power grids and consuming billions of gallons of water each year.

The Haydon-Edged project could provide a model for how data centers can support economic growth without sacrificing environmental responsibility. As the tech industry continues to expand in the Southwest, the Mesa facility will be a test case for the viability of waterless cooling and ultra-efficient power use in data center construction.

With its official groundbreaking, the Mesa data center has set an ambitious goal: to prove that innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand in one of the tech industry's most resource-intensive sectors. As construction moves forward, the facility will be watched closely as a potential harbinger of a more environmentally friendly future for data centers.