Data center operator Steadfast buys carbon offsets from US non-profit

Chicago data center provider Steadfast Networks has purchased carbon credits from a non-profit environmentalist organization in February, offsetting about 127 tons of CO2 emissions. Contribution to Carbonfund.org is part of the company’s wider initiative to reduce the company’s direct or related carbon footprint.

Purchase price of offsets was not disclosed but Carbonfund.org presented Steadfast, whose data center is located in Chicago’s large carrier hotel at 350 E Cermak Rd., also home to facilities operated by the likes of Savvis, AT&T and Level (3). The non-profit has certified Steadfast as carbon-neutral.

“Moving steadily forward in the 21st century does not mean trampling all over our natural resources, so we have teamed up with Carbonfund.org and implemented a variety of green initiative programs to help preserve our natural resources,” Steadfast CEO Karl Zimmerman said in a statement.

Steadfast data center at Chicago's 350 E Cermak Rd. has an overhead cooling system

In addition to the purchase of carbon offsets, Steadfast further reduces its carbon emissions by purchasing most of its equipment from local vendors and reducing the amount of packaging that equipment arrives in. The company also encourages its employees to walk, bike or use public transportation to get to work, instead of driving.

“Not having to unpack equipment has increased the speed of operations and made our Chicago hosting services and data centers run more efficiently,” Zimmerman explained. “Highly efficient network systems and dedicated server hosting also reduce carbon outputs, and those are options we also offer to customers who want to reduce their carbon imprint.”