SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: DLR), a leading global provider of data center solutions, announced today that it has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s ENERGY STAR certification for its data center in Lithia Springs, Georgia. This certification indicates that the facility performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meets the strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA.

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Through programs such as this, the EPA has illustrated its commitment to helping organizations in the United States assess how efficiently their buildings use energy. According to the EPA, ENERGY STAR certified data centers on average consume 35 percent less energy and contribute 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than similar but non-certified facilities across the nation.

"Improving the energy efficiency of our nation's buildings is critical to protecting our environment," said Jean Lupinacci, Chief of the ENERGY STAR Commercial & Industrial Branch. "From the boiler room to the board room, organizations are leading the way by making their buildings more efficient and earning the EPA's ENERGY STAR certification."

Digital Realty's Lithia Springs data center currently employs several energy management best practices, including but not limited to: modulating electronically commutated (EC) fan motors on critical air conditioners; variable speed pumping; and blanking panels in hot/cold aisle rack arrangements. The company has also raised supply set points to help mitigate humidity control issues and improve cooling efficiency. Digital Realty and its customer, Cigna, which has a strategic plan designed to execute a best-in-class environmental sustainability program, have collaborated on initial energy management efforts such as seeking ENERGY STAR certification for the Lithia Springs data center, and they are actively evaluating additional opportunities to similarly partner.

"We understand the growing importance of sustainability in the data center industry," said A. William Stein, Digital Realty's Chief Executive Officer. "This ENERGY STAR certification reflects our ongoing commitment to minimizing the environmental impact of data centers and educating our customers about energy efficiency opportunities. Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for organizations to select more sustainable data center solutions."

Since 2014, Digital Realty has been a participant in the Better Buildings Challenge, a U.S. Department of Energy-led initiative that aims to improve the energy efficiency of both public and private buildings by 20 percent over a 10-year period. The ENERGY STAR certification in Lithia Springs further demonstrates the company's commitment to partnering with customers to deliver cost-effective, energy-saving solutions.

About Digital Realty
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. supports the data center and colocation strategies of more than 1,000 firms across its secure, network-rich portfolio of data centers located throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Digital Realty's clients include domestic and international companies of all sizes, ranging from financial services, cloud and information technology services, to manufacturing, energy, gaming, life sciences and consumer products.  https://www.digitalrealty.com/

Safe Harbor Statement
This media alert contains forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including statements related to our Lithia Springs data center and our sustainability programs. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the impact of current global economic, credit and market conditions; decreases in information technology spending; adverse economic or real estate developments in our industry or the industry sectors that we sell to; risks related to our tenants; our failure to obtain necessary debt and equity financing; risks associated with using debt to fund our business activities; financial market fluctuations; our inability to manage our growth effectively; difficulty acquiring or operating properties in foreign jurisdictions; our failure to successfully integrate and operate acquired or developed properties or businesses; the suitability of our properties and data center infrastructure, delays or disruptions in connectivity, failure of our physical infrastructure or services or availability of power; risks related to joint venture investments; delays or unexpected costs in development of properties; decreased rental rates, increased operating costs or increased vacancy rates; increased competition or available supply of data center space; our inability to successfully develop and lease new properties and development space; difficulties in identifying properties to acquire and completing acquisitions; our inability to comply with the rules and regulations applicable to reporting companies; our failure to maintain our status as a REIT; restrictions on our ability to engage in certain business activities; environmental uncertainties and risks related to natural disasters; losses in excess of our insurance coverage; and changes in laws and regulations, including those related to taxation and real estate ownership and operation. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports and other filings by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2014 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2015, June 30, 2015 and September 30, 2015. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Digital Realty Trust, Inc.

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