Towards Data Centre Sustainability: An Assessment of Sustainable ICT Infrastructure Practices in Zimbabwean Public University Data Centers

This study presents a comprehensive assessment of sustainable information and communications technology (SICT) infrastructure practices within the data centers of Zimbabwean public universities. A census was conducted on 241 technical personnel from the ICT departments of 13 public universities, supplemented by 12 in-depth interviews with ICT directors and managers as key informants. The findings reveal a mixed picture regarding the adoption of sustainable data center practices. Positive indicators include the widespread use of server virtualization and database consolidation to optimize resource utilisation. However, several critical gaps were identified. There was a notable absence of server equipment energy usage monitoring, energy efficiency considerations in equipment procurement, and continuous power audits. Furthermore, the data centers largely lacked natural air cooling, automated temperature control systems, and integration of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. The universities have taken steps towards data center rationalisation and cloud adoption, but budget funding constraints and non-availability of slack financial resources have hindered the full implementation of sustainable data centre initiatives. Notably, there is a lack of guiding policies and life-cycle management practices for sustainable ICT infrastructure maintenance. The research results highlight the need for a more holistic and systematic approach to promoting sustainability in Zimbabwean public university data centers in promotion of ICT for Sustainable Development (ICT4SD). The research findings provide valuable insights to inform the development of targeted interventions, potential in cross institution collaborations and Sustainable ICT policy frameworks that can enable these universities to transition towards more environmentally responsible and energy-efficient data center operations.