OVERLAND PARK, Kan.,
June 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/
-- QTS Realty Trust (NYSE: QTS), a leading provider of
hybrid colocation and mega scale data center solutions, today
announced it has published its 2020 Environmental, Social and
Governance (ESG) Initiatives Report.
Available online here, the 2020 ESG Report has been
prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards: Core option and the
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) real estate
standards1 and aligns with the guidance of the Task
Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures.
"QTS is proud to have achieved a leadership position in the data
center industry for its sustainability initiatives," said
Chad Williams, Chief Executive
Officer, QTS. "We view sustainability as the ongoing stewardship of
our people, customers and communities and a key opportunity to
drive shareholder value. It is this sincere belief and commitment
that is making QTS' sustainability program financially, culturally
and operationally sustainable. We are on track to achieve our key
sustainability milestones led by our commitment to procure 100% of
our power requirements from renewable energy sources by 2025."
QTS' legacy of corporate sustainability can be traced back to
early initiatives to redevelop large scale infrastructure into
world-class data centers, providing a significant opportunity to
recycle existing materials. Over the years these initiatives
expanded into business practices aligned around a company culture
that is Powered by People. The ESG Initiatives report
documents the Company's vision of enhancing the care and
improvement of human life and minimizing its carbon
footprint through technology, manpower and advanced
construction and procurement initiatives.
Based on progress and success in 2020, the Company has updated
its environmental goals in the 2020 report as follows:
- Procure 100% of its power from renewable energy sources by
2025.
As of the end of 2020, QTS procured 36% of its energy
from renewable sources with a visible path toward achieving our
goal of procuring 100% of power from renewable energy sources by
2025.
- Conserve at least 15 Million gallons of water per
year.
On average QTS has conserved 15 million gallons of
water annually since 2016. Going forward the Company looks to
measure year-over-year improvement in water usage effectiveness
(WUE).
- Report to GRESB, CDP, EcoVadis, RE100 and the EPA Green
Power Partnership.
- Pursue Green Building Certifications in 100% of owned
facilities by 2025.
As of the end of 2020, 72% of QTS'
facilities are LEED certified or Green Design certified and the
Company has made significant progress with Energy Star
certifications that will continue in 2021.
- Recycle 90% of its Operational Waste by 2025.
To
date, QTS has recycled over 1.3 billion pounds of material and
recycled 68% of its operational waste.
- Install EV charging stations at 75% of its facilities by
2025.
As of the end of 2020, QTS has installed Electrical
Vehicle (EV) charging stations at 55% of its facilities.
"I am pleased with how the QTS organization stepped up and
delivered for each other, our customers and communities during the
strongest year of operating performance in QTS' history," Williams
said. "The strong foundations we have laid, in part through
impactful ESG programs, have prepared our business to continue to
set a new standard for service delivery in the data center
industry."
Other significant achievements during 2020 in advancing QTS' ESG
initiatives include:
- 35%+ increase in QTS' renewable energy procurement
year-over-year
- Ranked #1 by GRESB in sustainability among data centers
globally for the second consecutive year
- Highest year of charitable giving in QTS history to more than
80 different organizations
- Initiated a new corporate partnership with World Vision to make
clean water accessible to thousands of families globally
QTS is committed to push toward more sustainable solutions and
build facilities that are among the most energy and water efficient
in the world. The Company embraces transparency of operational
data, and will continue to report on its progress toward achieving
its long-term ESG goals.
About QTS
QTS Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: QTS) is a
leading provider of data center solutions across a diverse
footprint spanning more than 7 million square feet of owned mega
scale data center space within North
America and Europe. Through
its software-defined technology platform, QTS is able to deliver
secure, compliant infrastructure solutions, robust connectivity and
premium customer service to leading hyperscale technology
companies, enterprises, and government entities. Visit QTS at
www.qtsdatacenters.com, call toll-free 877.QTS.DATA or follow on
Twitter @DataCenters_QTS.
- SASB Activity Metrics SASB industry standards contain activity
metrics that are designed to assist in the accurate evaluation and
comparability of reporting. Note, other SASB metrics are provided
in the relevant sections of this report.
Investor Relations Contact:
Stephen Douglas, EVP Finance
ir@qtsdatacenters.com
Media Contact:
Carter B.
Cromley
(703) 861-7245
carter.cromley@qtsdatacenters.com
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SOURCE QTS Realty Trust, Inc.