18 Jun 2025

Driving Global Sustainability Innovation at RED: Iain MacDougall and the RED Engineering Team

President’s Awards insights: Planet Award finalist, Iain MacDougall, RED

At RED, sustainability is a foundational principle. Leading this mission is Iain MacDougall, who heads RED’s global Sustainability team. Through his visionary leadership, Iain has inspired sustainable behaviours across every part of RED Engineering, setting the tone and creating the space for success.

Iain’s impact spans technical innovation, regulatory alignment, and deep internal engagement. An example was his presentation at Data Centre World 2025, where he explored the intersection of innovation and regulation. His session, "Blending Innovation and Regulation," showcased how forward-thinking design in data centres can meet compliance standards while significantly reducing environmental impact.

Iain serves as the co-chair of the ASHRAE Data Centre Group, he is a committee member in both the CIBSE Data Centre Group and CIBSE Sustainability Group and volunteers as the Data Centre Sector PM for the UKNZ Building Standard and techUK Data Centre ESG+ Group.

Internally, Iain has driven a culture of sustainability through initiatives like the Walk to the Moon Challenge in Manila, encouraging employee well-being and cutting commuting-related emissions. Under his leadership, RED maintain ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 certifications, focusing on tracking and improving energy usage across the business. Key indicators such as energy per square metre and carbon per employee guide data-driven sustainability improvements.

A key component of RED’s progress has been the development of the Manila team, which has now become the focal point of RED’s Sustainability, R&D, and Energy Transition teams. Their community-focused culture resonates across the business, driving forward RED’s environmental goals.

The team’s work on waste reduction, including recycling audits and supporting the company’s goal to achieve TRUE zero-waste certification by 2026, has been instrumental in aligning RED with ambitious environmental goals. Additionally, the enhancement of RED’s Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) capabilities, including the development of a bespoke embodied carbon calculator for MEP systems, has plugged a vital gap in the market for data centre-specific sustainability assessments.

To increase accessibility to RED’s sustainability expertise, Iain and his team launched the Sustainability Easy Access Tool, now available via the RED website. This resource connects internal teams and external partners to RED’s services, making it easier for stakeholders to engage with sustainability initiatives. Collaboration with Tractebel to develop a roadmap for nuclear-powered computing is part of RED’s long-term vision for a fossil-free energy transition.

Education and awareness remain central to Iain’s approach. Through global Climate Frescos, Wednesday Workshops, and quarterly sustainability inductions, Iain ensures climate literacy is embedded across the organisation. These sessions cover diverse topics, from sustainable cooling with sea or river water, to hydrogen-powered data centre feasibility, and even environmentally conscious holiday practices.

Iain MacDougall exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose. Through a blend of technical rigour, stakeholder engagement, and relentless drive for climate progress, he and the RED Engineering team are not only advancing RED’s sustainability strategy but setting an example for the wider industry. Their work is helping to shape a greener, more resilient future for infrastructure, data, and the planet.

To read more about the techUK President's Awards, visit our page here. Winners will be announced at the techUK Annual Dinner on 1 July.

Driving Global Sustainability Innovation at RED: Iain MacDougall and the RED Engineering Team

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