NAVER Achieves LEED Platinum Certification for Data Center “GAK Sejong,” Showcasing Global Leadership in Eco-Friendly Practices
NAVER Achieves LEED Platinum Certification for Data Center “GAK Sejong,” Showcasing Global Leadership in Eco-Friendly Practices
NAVER Achieves LEED Platinum Certification for Data Center “GAK Sejong,” Showcasing Global Leadership in Eco-Friendly Practices
- GAK Sejong joins GAK Chuncheon, Connect One, Green Factory, and 1784 in achieving one of the highest standards in eco-friendly certifications
- GAK Sejong establishes a record-high score among global hyperscale IDCs, securing LEED Platinum
- Equipped with cutting-edge AI, robotics, and autonomous driving technologies, GAK Sejong is also globally acknowledged for its exemplary eco-friendly practices
June 4, 2024
NAVER (CEO Choi Soo-yeon) announced that its second data center, GAK Sejong, has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification. This recognition highlights the data center’s adherence to the highest standards of eco-friendly operations and future technologies.
With GAK Sejong now LEED Platinum certified, NAVER has secured this top-tier environmental certification across all its facilities. Starting with GAK Chuncheon in 2013, followed by NAVER Green Factory (2014), NAVER Connect One (2015), and its second headquarters 1784 (2022), NAVER’s facilities have all met the highest international standards in environmental sustainability.
Notably, GAK Sejong recorded the highest score among global hyperscale data centers to secure the LEED Platinum certification. The data center has been lauded for its sustainable practices, including energy efficiency and conservation of natural landscapes from its design and construction phases. LEED, a globally recognized green building accreditation program, is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Operating since November of last year, GAK Sejong embodies NAVER’s eco-friendly operational strategies. Building upon a decade of experience from the first internet data center (IDC), GAK Chuncheon, GAK Sejong was designed considering the surrounding terrain and ecosystem and used various eco-friendly materials during construction.
Moreover, GAK Sejong enhances energy efficiency through its self-developed NAVER Air Membrane Unit (NAMU), which uses natural wind to cool the server rooms around the clock and repurposes the generated heat for various facility needs like hot water provision and a snow melting system. The center also leverages renewable energy sources such as solar and geothermal energy, contributing to an annual reduction of around 13,000 MWh in electricity usage and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 6,000 tons.
[Photo] GAK Sejong, NAVER’s data center
GAK Sejong is a hyperscale IDC equipped with high-performance computing infrastructure essential for artificial intelligence (AI) and incorporates advanced technologies in robotics and autonomous driving. This LEED certification acknowledges the data center’s exceptional eco-friendly practices alongside its advanced technological capabilities. NAVER is committed to further developing a sustainable ecosystem where technology is accessible to all.
In addition, NAVER continues to advance its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and environmental management initiatives by minimizing the ecological footprint of its buildings and data centers, centered around its “2040 Carbon Negative” strategy. Initiatives include introducing renewable energy to its second headquarters, 1784, through a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Korea Water Resources Corporation and maintaining an industry-leading power usage effectiveness (PUE) of less than 1.2 at GAK Chuncheon, achieved via natural energy cooling systems. NAVER also actively participates in global climate initiatives such as RE100 and EV100.
