CBRE and Ecolab’s Data Centre Strategy to Improve Water Use

CBRE has formed a global partnership with Ecolab to improve water efficiency across commercial properties and critical facilities, including data centres.

The collaboration supports CBRE’s wider sustainability goals by reducing water waste, improving operational performance and cutting costs for clients worldwide.

The partnership reflects the growing focus on responsible water use within data infrastructure, where efficient cooling and sustainable operation are becoming central to environmental performance.

Building sustainable operations

CBRE, one of the world’s largest real estate services and investment firms, operates from more than 500 offices in over 100 countries. It integrates proprietary technology, data and market knowledge to help clients make strategic property decisions that drive growth and sustainability.

The company’s corporate responsibility framework is built on three priorities: achieving a low carbon future, fostering a thriving workplace and leading with integrity. These principles underpin its investment in sustainable supply chains, where water management is an increasingly critical component.

Ecolab, a global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention, supports businesses in maintaining safe environments through science-based solutions and data-driven insights. Its systems are designed to optimise water conservation while upholding food safety and hygiene standards.

Through the partnership, Ecolab’s technologies and CBRE’s real estate expertise come together to create a unified water management approach for commercial and industrial sites. This includes data centres, where cooling efficiency and resource control are vital to reducing energy intensity and operational cost.

Data centres and water efficiency

Water is a critical resource in modern building operations, particularly for data centres and advanced manufacturing sites that rely on water for cooling and process regulation. CBRE manages nearly 8 billion square feet of property globally and estimates that these facilities consume more than 100 billion gallons of water each year.

Reducing this consumption is a central goal. By combining CBRE’s operational reach with Ecolab’s technological capabilities, the two companies aim to improve water quality, cut usage and increase the sustainability of mission-critical environments.

Rob Bernard, Chief Sustainability Officer at CBRE, explains the motivation behind the initiative. 

“We are focused on creating value for our clients by solving their biggest sustainability challenges, and water is increasingly important, especially in sectors like data centers, life sciences and advanced manufacturing,” he says. “The combined expertise and scale of CBRE and Ecolab creates an advantage for companies in addressing their end-to-end water needs and has the potential to transform water use in the industry.”

Clients will gain access to a comprehensive suite of Ecolab’s water management technologies alongside CBRE’s advisory and operational services. This integrated model helps organisations streamline water usage, enhance efficiency and achieve measurable sustainability results while maintaining reliability within high-demand facilities.

Ecolab’s global network, spanning more than 170 countries, provides a strong foundation for implementing these measures across multiple markets. The company’s experience with industrial and commercial clients makes it well placed to support the transition toward smarter, cleaner operations within data-driven sectors.

Sustainability and measurable impact

Ecolab’s track record demonstrates how water efficiency can deliver both environmental and financial value. In 2024, its programmes helped clients save 226 billion gallons of water, reduce 4.6 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and conserve 65 trillion BTUs of energy. These achievements translated into US$9.1bn in cumulative value for customers, showing how sustainability and profitability align when resource efficiency is prioritised.

Emilio Tenuta, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ecolab, highlights the wider importance of water management. 

“Water is central to operational impact and profitable growth for many businesses,” Emilio says. “In manufacturing, up to 75% of energy flows through water systems – making water efficiency a powerful lever for climate resilience and business performance. Through our partnership with CBRE, we're working to help clients unlock value through smarter operations, improved efficiency and measurable impact.”

For the data centre industry, this collaboration offers a model for managing water use at scale. Cooling systems remain among the most resource-intensive components of facility operation, and improved efficiency can significantly lower both environmental impact and running costs.

By aligning sustainable design, water conservation and operational excellence, CBRE and Ecolab are helping clients future-proof their facilities while supporting global decarbonisation efforts. The combined approach ensures that water stewardship becomes a measurable part of business performance – linking environmental responsibility directly to the operational success of modern data centres.