Compass Datacenters’ research signals digital hoarding is a problem Americans lack confidence to address

DALLAS, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — One thing is for certain…Americans love their devices. According to a recent nationwide survey commissioned by Compass Datacenters, scrolling supersedes all other options for whittling away time. According to the 1,000-person poll, 63% of Americans spend their free time in the digital sphere, and 77% admit to accumulating more data than they need or are unsure how much is too much.

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In a poll conducted between January 21 and February 5, 2025, Americans shared their perspectives on digital accumulation. Here are the results.

The first (and seemingly last) step is recognizing the problem
Most everyone is mindful of the need to delete. Ninety-five percent of survey respondents said they delete unnecessary files at some point to keep their devices functioning. But only 10% of people feel confident doing so. In fact, one-in-three people feel overwhelmed, anxious and stressed by managing digital files.

While the least of their concerns was data privacy (37%), Americans know that too much data eats up storage (80%), threatens device performance (71%), makes it hard to find stuff (44%) and drains the device’s battery (43%).

Despite knowing excessive data is problematic and wanting to do something about it, Americans are all over the map when it comes to solutions. They’re addressing digital file accumulation with varying degrees of success and a fair amount of anxiety, evidenced by their willingness to do most any other chore before dumping data.

A whopping 59% would rather wash dishes than face their digital files. Other preferred activities include getting an annual physical (23%), going to the dentist (22%), and even eating liver and onions (17%). Sprucing up the house, car or yard is a much higher priority.Americans delete stored photos about as often as they clean out the junk drawer (Admit it…everyone has at least one!) – once or twice per year.Hesitancy to delete is driven by a fear of deleting something they might need later (42%). Procrastination is also a major culprit (36%).Almost half (46%) of respondents said they use less than 10 apps per week yet store many more. One-third of Americans store 26 to 50 apps and another 11% store 50 to 100.

Putting a $40,000 band aid on the problem
The data indicate that digital files fall prey to an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mentality. Digital files are compact, easy to store, and you don’t have to think about them until something fails, making it easy for mess to accumulate without realizing it. And it’s a disturbing trend to see younger generations buying their way out of practicing good digital hygiene.

Nearly half (49%) of Gen Z and Millennials polled say they pay for data storage. That number drops off significantly for Gen X and Boomers.Of the Gen Z group – 48% pay $1-20 each month. Another 40% pay $20-40 and 11% pay $40-60 monthly for data storage.Accounting for a 3% inflation rate, assuming a 25-year-old pays $20/month for data storage until the age of 85, they will spend $40,000 over their lifetime on digital storage.

Take the next step
Expert Digital Minimalist Kath Younger has partnered with Compass Datacenters for Earth Day to inspire and assist people in cleaning out their digital closet. Check out www.deletedigitaldustbunnies.com for tips, tricks and small ways to have a large impact on your digital future.

Why Compass Datacenters
A data center developer may seem like an unlikely entity to champion the elimination of digital waste. We’re different like that. At our core, we’re fanatical about zero waste…physical or digital. We believe tidy, sustainable spaces support productivity, safer worksites and all-around positive outcomes.

About Compass Datacenters
Compass Datacenters, one of Inc. Magazine’s 5000 fastest growing companies, designs and constructs data centers for the world’s largest hyperscalers and cloud providers. Through prefabrication and applying modern manufacturing principles to construction, Compass is uniquely able to deliver customizable, scalable, sustainable and low-cost data centers in an expedited time frame. These large-scale, long-lived campuses create economies of scale for customers and local communities. Compass is backed by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Brookfield Infrastructure. For more information, visit www.compassdatacenters.com.

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SOURCE Compass Datacenters

SHENZHEN, China, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Energy storage has garnered unprecedented attention regarding its safety and reliability. On January 16, 2025, a fire broke out at the Moss Landing lithium battery energy storage power plant in California, USA. This is not the first accident at the Moss Landing energy storage plant. In both 2021 and 2022, the plant experienced fires caused by overheating due to unexpected moisture exposure of the batteries. The specific cause of this latest incident is still under further investigation.

In recent years, many countries around the world have been deploying large-scale lithium battery energy storage facilities. However, safety concerns have become a “Sword of Damocles” hanging over the energy storage industry. Risks such as internal short circuits, overcharging, over-discharging, external environmental temperature impacts, misuse, and battery management system failures can lead to thermal runaway in battery cells, potentially causing fires.

TS-800: An Upgrading for the Way in Fire Safety Test
In 2024, the internationally renowned certification body CSA issued TS-800, a large-scale fire test protocol for energy storage systems. This test provides manufacturers with direct criteria for optimizing system safety, while also offering critical data for regulatory agencies, fire departments, and insurance companies to assess risks.

The advancement of site-level energy density is a crucial driving indicator for industry development. With active fire suppression systems turned off, the challenge lies in arranging units more densely while ensuring that thermal runaway in one unit does not affect others. This metric profoundly challenges the boundaries of energy storage fire safety design.

“The existing standards (such as UL 9540A) are capable of testing for thermal runaway, but they do not adequately simulate fire propagation scenarios, especially in multi-module container systems where a single battery fire can potentially ignite adjacent units or even the entire system. The core goal of the TS-800 test is to address this gap,” said Marvin Peng, the Battery & Energy Storage Certifier of CSA Group.

In 2024, Sungrow verified that its liquid-cooled energy storage system endured four hours of combustion laid in an A/B array. All cabinets remain unharmed and without any fire spreading to its surroundings and the structure remained intact, the battery compartment doors did not open, and no mechanical parts were ejected. That because Sungrow applied pressure-sensing explosion venting, multi-layer fire resistance, and dual-compartment design in its PowerTitan system, which played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of the entire energy storage system. Moreover, Sungrow Power further announced that its next-generation large-scale storage product, PowerTitan 2.0, had also passed the large-scale fire test. Additionally, leading energy storage companies Trina Storage and BYD claimed to have passed the large-scale fire test in October 2024 and January 2025, respectively.

Challenge the Limit Spacing: A Breakthrough in Energy Storage Safety
Recently, the 15 years pioneers of energy storage commercialization——CLOU Electronics has announced completing the CSA TS-800 Large-Scale Fire Test (LSFT) in February 2025. This achievement again highlights its unwavering commitment to developing innovative, reliable, and safe energy storage solutions for a global market.

“CLOU committees that every product delivered is trustworthy and has undergone rigorous testing. The Aqua-C2.5 5MWh utility scaled energy storage system is the world’s first large-scale energy storage system to adopt an active ventilation fire protection design. Through active cell sensing, it triggers an electric shutter explosion suppression solution in thermal runaway scenarios, effectively controlling the spread of thermal runaway at extreme short distances in 140mm,” said Eric Wang, System Director of CLOU ESS Division.

The Aqua-C2.5 was lunched at September 2024, it also engineered for durability with an impressive C5 anti-corrosion rating and IP55 protection. It has earned multiple certifications, including CE, UL1973, UL9540A, UL9540, IEC62619, IEC63056, IEC62477-1, UN38.3, NFPA855, and NEC, and has passed the rigorous IEEE693 seismic test.

The experiment adhered to stringent technical specifications throughout the testing process. Under the supervision of the CSA Group, the TS-800 LSFT subjected the product to extreme fire conditions, simulating a real-project conditions, four 20ft cabinets were arranged according to an actual A/B A/D back-to-back and side to side real station layout. All cabinets were spaced in an extreme short distance apart with full load capacity to replicate operational scenarios. The test also aims to evaluate whether the structural design (such as fire barriers) and material selection (such as flame-retardant components) can effectively prevent the spread of fire when external firefighting measures completely fail.

During the test, temperatures inside the battery cabinet exceeded 1000°C and burned consistently for 48 hours. Despite this, the adjacent cabinets’ temperatures remained below 40°C since the product’s active ventilation blade employing function like active detection and off-gassing, which maximally prevent combustion and ensure thermal isolation.

“The results were remarkable: the Aqua-C2.5 demonstrated excellent flame retardancy, thermal insulation, and superior safety design.” Battery & Energy Storage Certifier of CSA Group Marvin Peng said. Meanwhile, after the combustion test, the structural integrity fully preserved, also showcasing the exceptional rigidity and compressive performance of its design, redefining the durability and stability of energy storage products. This milestone underscores the system’s ability to safeguard against fire risks in even the harshest conditions, setting a new safety benchmark in the energy storage industry.

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SOURCE CLOU Electronics Co., Ltd.

NEW YORK, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Argand Partners, LP (“Argand”), the New York-based middle-market private equity firm, with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Miami, today announced a dividend recapitalization of its portfolio company, Sigma Engineered Solutions (“Sigma” or the “Company”), a global supplier of precision metal components servicing a variety of industrial markets including electrical, power transmission & distribution, and instrumentation. The Company’s headquarters and distribution center is located in Garner, North Carolina, with manufacturing facilities in India, Mexico, and the United States.

“We are thrilled about the growth at Sigma and the wonderful job CEO Brad Ward and his team have done expanding its customer base, building on its competitive advantages, and delivering exceptional results,” said Charlie Burns, Partner at Argand Partners. “With this transaction, we are excited to accomplish the twin objectives of creating operational flexibility and returning capital to our investors. Over our ownership, Sigma has grown into a differentiated global supplier, and we’re excited about supporting its next phase of growth.”

“This transaction is a strong endorsement of the progress we’ve made and the opportunities ahead,” said Brad Ward, CEO of Sigma Engineered Solutions. “Argand has been a tremendous partner, supporting our vision and investing in the tools we need to scale. We’re excited to continue building on our momentum and delivering value to our customers and stakeholders.”

Heather Faust, Managing Partner at Argand Partners, added, “Sigma’s engineering expertise, vertically integrated global supply chain, and world-class manufacturing footprint have positioned them as a trusted partner to leading multinational OEMs. Sigma has ever-growing importance with its customers because of its unique combination of just-in-time distribution capabilities coupled with operational excellence in design, metal forming, precision machining, and finishing for metal components and assemblies on a worldwide scale.

Ares Management and Apogem Capital participated in the upsizing of the credit facility in connection with the transaction.

About Sigma Engineered Solutions

Sigma Engineered Solutions, headquartered in Garner, North Carolina, is a global leader in the manufacturing of precision-engineered metal components. The Company serves end markets benefiting from increased electrification and connectivity, including electrical, power transmission & distribution, instrumentation, consumer electronics, and general industrial markets. With world-class manufacturing and supply chain facilities across the United States, India, and Mexico, Sigma’s engineering expertise, quality, and distribution capabilities make it a preferred partner for multinational corporations across the globe.

About Argand Partners

Argand Partners is a New York-based middle-market private equity firm, with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Miami. The firm makes investments in manufacturing, distribution, and business services companies with a strong U.S. nexus (headquarters, significant operations, primary growth market, and/or majority of revenue) and often significant global operations.

Argand-owned companies are typically niche market leaders in the U.S. and/or globally, have sustainable competitive advantages, defensive characteristics, and significant growth potential supported by secular demand trends.

Argand is a control investor with a team that employs a hands-on approach to partnering with great management to create value across the investment lifecycle and pursue significant growth.

Argand is a signatory to the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment. Further information on Argand can be found on the firm’s website: http://www.argandequity.com

For more information about Argand or Sigma contact:

Heather Faust
Managing Partner & Co-Founder
Argand Partners
(212) 588-6470
hfaust@argandequity.com 

Charlie Burns
Partner
Argand Partners
(212) 588-6473
cburns@argandequity.com

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SOURCE Argand Partners