In 2010, Yahoo Inc. opened a new data center in Lockport, New York. It was the company's first use of a new environmentally friendly design that relies in large part on western New York's cooler climate. It makes use of the prevailing winds from Lake Ontario and low-cost hydropower from the New York Power Authority to keep the 120-foot by 60-foot server buildings cool. That significantly reduces its electricity use so that its power usage rating is nearly half that of the industry average. According to the EPA, data centers across the U.S. account for about 1.5% of our country's electricity usage. The Lockport facility uses about 40% less energy and at least 95% less water than its competitors. It is of the most energy efficient structures of its kind.

Project profile

Investment: $150 million
New jobs created: 125
Construction jobs: 500+

 

"This facility is going to be the single most efficient, environmentally friendly data center on the planet."

- David Dibble
Yahoo! Executive VP of Services for Engineering and Operations