Link to SmartBrief (Jan. 30, 2026) | For builders and asset investors looking for certainty in an otherwise uncertain business environment, data centers and power facilities are a clear north star in an industry that headed into the year with not nearly as many strong markets to capitalize.
…A recent article by law firm Morgan Lewis suggested growing demand for data centers is transforming HVAC from a facility cost to a strategic investment. Colin Mangham, chief experience officer at U.S. Green Building Council California (USGBC-CA), agrees, noting that “if cooling fails, everything fails.”
“When a lender or insurer evaluates a data center project, they’re not thinking about green credentials,” Mangham wrote in an email to SmartBrief. “They’re thinking about what breaks, what costs money to operate, and what could trigger total failure. Cooling is the answer to all three questions.” (Read full article)
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