Green Building Initiative, iMasons Climate Accord Collaborate on Data Center Sustainability

The Green Building Initiative (GBI) and iMasons Climate Accord (iCA) have signed a strategic agreement focused on improving sustainability standards and carbon accountability across the digital infrastructure industry. As demand for AI infrastructure, cloud computing capacity, and digital services continues accelerating globally, data centers remain among the most energy-intensive building categories within the commercial and industrial infrastructure sectors. 

The collaboration is intended to strengthen alignment between building-level sustainability certification programs and carbon reporting frameworks used throughout modern data center operations and digital infrastructure supply chains as organizations continue expanding AI and cloud infrastructure capacity.

Under the agreement, GBI’s Green Globes and Ascent building certification programs will work alongside carbon reporting frameworks developed through iCA to support broader evaluation of operational efficiency, emissions accountability, resource usage, and long-term decarbonization strategies across digital infrastructure environments.

“Together, GBI and iCA will bring thought leaders together to advance resources that result in reductions of carbon emissions by the digital infrastructure industry,” said Sumayyah Theron, Chair of GBI’s Board of Directors. “By connecting GBI’s expertise in third-party building certification with iCA’s carbon reporting frameworks for digital infrastructure, we’re helping organizations evaluate sustainability more holistically — from the supply chain to the building itself.”

“Partnering with GBI advances our respective missions to drive measurable carbon reduction across the built environment, specifically the digital infrastructure ecosystem,” said Miranda Gardiner, Executive Director of The iMasons Climate Accord. “Through alignment of transparent carbon accounting, a shared commitment to excellence and collaboration, and open standards that enable meaningful accountability, we can make more informed, data-driven decisions that accelerate progress toward net zero.”

The organizations also plan to share technical resources, coordinate educational initiatives, and support broader industry outreach involving sustainability and operational efficiency across digital infrastructure environments.

The partnership reflects growing industry attention surrounding embodied carbon, operational emissions, supply chain sustainability, and resource efficiency across rapidly expanding AI and cloud infrastructure environments.

The iCA includes participation from organizations across cloud computing, networking, data center infrastructure, industrial technology, and energy systems. Governing members include companies such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, Dell Technologies, Schneider Electric, and Digital Realty. 

About GBI

GBI is an international nonprofit organization and ANSI-accredited standards developer focused on improving sustainability, operational efficiency, and environmental performance across the built environment. The organization develops building certification and assessment programs including Green Globes, Journey to Net Zero, Guiding Principles Compliance, and Ascent Building Certification programs supporting commercial, industrial, and institutional infrastructure projects. For more information, please click here.

About iCA

iCA is a coalition focused on decarbonization of digital infrastructure involving data centers, cloud computing, networking, software, energy systems, and industrial technology operations. Launched by Infrastructure Masons in 2022, the organization develops open carbon accounting standards, reporting frameworks, sustainability tools, and educational initiatives intended to accelerate progress toward net-zero carbon operations across the global digital infrastructure ecosystem. To learn more, please click here.

Source: Green Building Initiative / iMasons Climate Accord 

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