Datacenter Gold Rush: Secure Specs with EPDs Now
Hyperscaler campuses worth tens of billions are on the drawing board right now. By the time ground breaks, purchasing teams will have finalised every approved product list—and they will look first at Environmental Product Declarations. Miss that first review cycle and a rival coating, floor tile, or power panel wins the spec for an entire multi-building program.
A nine-gigawatt wave no one can ignore
Development filings show more than 9 GW of North American datacenter capacity queued for 2026-27, nearly triple the 2022 pipeline (Newmark, 2025). AI workloads are the spark. Capital spend on U.S. builds hit a record $40 billion annualized this summer (Bank of America, 2025). Each campus drops millions of square feet of wall, floor, and electrical gear into procurement portals months before permits land.
Carbon math now drives material picks
Microsoft, Google, and AWS have all set hard embodied-carbon targets for new facilities. AWS even launched a supplier module that collects LCAs and EPD PDFs automatically from vendors (AWS, 2024). If your product lacks a third-party-verified declaration, the bid goes no further. Paint and floor finishes may only account for a few percent of building mass, yet they hit every surface. Multiply that by up to forty-acre data centers and the footprint matters.
Lead times hide a window of leverage
The span from initial design to ribbon-cutting can stretch 24-30 months. The approved-components list, however, often locks 12 months before construction. Datacenter builders freeze specs early because changing even a cable tray cascades across airflow, fire rating, and commissioning models. Manufacturers that present compliant EPDs during schematic design rarely get swapped out later; procurement teams hate reopening carbon models.
What specifiers screen in suppliers
- Global Warming Potential in kg CO₂e per functional unit (must benchmark below the EC3 median)
- Verification date not older than five years, proving current processes
- Clear, single-product declarations rather than industry averages where possible
- Alignment with EN 15804+A2 or ISO 21930 so numbers slot straight into their carbon accounting tools
Catch the train while doors are still open
Hyperscaler procurement teams are planning today, building tomorrow. Make sure you end up on the shortlist with a verified, product-specific EPD before one of your competitors that already has one does.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early do hyperscaler projects lock material specifications?
Typically 12 months before construction starts, long before purchase orders are cut.
Is an industry-average EPD acceptable for paint or flooring?
Often no. AI datacenters favor product-specific EPDs so they can model precise CO₂e savings.
Which standards should my EPD reference to be datacenter-ready?
EN 15804 +A2 or ISO 21930, verified by an accredited third party, keep you safely inside procurement portals.
How long before bidding should we start an EPD for data-center projects?
Plan on six to nine months from kickoff to published document. Starting earlier lets you iterate and still meet the RFQ date.
Is the Open Compute Project setting mandatory material rules?
Not yet, but its August 2024 call for low-carbon concrete set a 50 % reduction target the big four hyperscalers already reference in design briefs (OCP, 2024).
About the Author
Eric works at the intersection of sustainability, regulation, and business strategy, helping manufacturers navigate the evolving landscape of EPDs and LCAs. Having spoken with hundreds of teams across North America, brings a deep understanding of what drives ROI, what regulators are asking for, and how companies can stay ahead with smart, scalable approaches to environmental reporting.
