INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Green Technology

600-acres uniquely designed in partnership with the University of Maryland fortified with native ecology and natural features that reduce noise , protect views and capture carbon .

The Nature Reserve will act as a carbon-sink onsite , enabling operation of the first carbon negative industrial-development of its kind .

Once complete , the integrated Nature Reserve will have a total of one million trees . The project kicked off with a demonstration planting in collaboration with University of Maryland ( UMD ) professors and students , as well as the local community . The trees have been planted in association with Global Tree Initiative ( GTI ), an organisation focused on advancing global efforts in reforestation . The plantings feature all-native species selected to optimise carbon capture and enhance biodiversity .

The Nature Reserve expands on the company ’ s Bees and Trees initiative with the local Frederick County Beekeepers and students serving as caretakers of hives within the Nature Reserve . Maryland is home to over 400 species of pollinators which are vital for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health .

“ Working in partnership with the University of Maryland and Frederick County , we made an important promise to prioritise the revitalisation of this site , from its dirty industrial past into a place that demonstrates the potential for modern sustainable industry ,” said Scott Noteboom , Co-founder and CTO , Quantum Loophole . “ The nature reserve is a vital differentiator of our master planned data center communities . By integrating our own human innovations with those of nature herself , we ’ re able to help industry become part of nature , versus counter to nature . By doing so , we hope to set an example not just for data center developers , but to help serve as a blueprint for any industrial development in the world .”

Master planning enables QL to achieve its carbon neutral goals through a two-step approach . Firstly , the company enables the reduction of carbon emissions through strategic site selection and paired with diverse high criticality power infrastructure – as well as substantiating renewable primary and backup energy supply chains .

Secondly , the company has established the 600-acre Nature Reserve to capture all carbon emitted onsite operationally .

“ Breaking ground on the 600-acre Nature Reserve at Quantum Frederick marks a critical step towards a holistic , industrial ecology approach in data center development ,” said Dr David Tilley , Associate Professor at University of Maryland . “ As these centers become integral to our livelihood and social fabric due to global increases in computing needs , the University of Maryland ’ s Departments of Environmental Science and Technology and Landscape Architecture , are eager to advance a partnership with Quantum Loophole .

“ Together , through research on nature-based solutions and demonstration of ecologically engineered designs , we aim to establish the global gold standard for more sustainable data center practices ,” Dr Tilley said . p

www . intelligentcio . com INTELLIGENTCIO NORTH AMERICA 69