Shaw Communications Inc. has broke ground on a new energy efficient data center in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The centre is scheduled to be completed in spring 2014 and will provide a power boost to Shaw's next-generation broadband technology.

"In a digital world, there is no question that customers are looking for unparalleled connectivity and power," said Peter Bissonnette, president, Shaw Communications Inc. "We're already delivering unparalleled speeds with our newly announced Internet packages, but we know technology doesn't stand still. Shaw's new data center will ensure we're able to stay ahead of the technology curve with an energy efficient infrastructure that is able to handle new innovations as they come."

Construction of the center will begin in July 2011 and incorporates "free cooling." This will allow Shaw to cool the data center without heavily relying on traditional air conditioning. This low impact technique supports Shaw's commitment to reducing its environmental footprint. In the last year Shaw eliminated 5,176 tons of carbon by using renewable wind energy in three of their buildings-an equivalence of taking more than 900 cars off the road.

"Sustainability is top of mind at Shaw," stated Bissonnette. "In recent years we have introduced several processes that manage our impact on the environment-from vendor selection to building practices, including LEED certification, and vehicle choices. We're proud to be making responsible decisions."