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ENERGY STAR Data Center Energy Efficiency Initiatives

EPA is working with the IT industry to identify ways in which energy efficiency can be measured, documented, and implemented in data centers. EPA has several initiatives currently underway:

Guiding Principles for Energy Efficiency

In an effort to assist data center operators wishing to assess the energy efficiency of their facilities, eight leading organizations that set or use data center energy efficiency metrics met on January 13, 2010 in Washington, DC. The outcome of the meeting is an agreement to three guiding principles for measuring energy efficiency in data centers at the present time. These guiding principles are meant to help the industry have a common understanding of energy efficiency metrics that can generate dialogue to improve data center efficiencies and reduce energy consumption. Each of the participating organizations has agreed to promote these guiding principles to their members and stakeholders in an effort to bring uniformity to the measurement of data center energy efficiency, while the dialogue continues to advance existing metrics. Additionally, the eight participating organizations created a task force to develop further recommendations based on the agreed upon guiding principles. Below please find a copy of the guiding principles established on January 13, as well as the set of recommendations from the task force on measuring PUE at dedicated data centers and data centers in mixed-use buildings.

Additionally, a global taskforce comprised of representatives from the U.S., European Union, and Japan has been meeting regularly since February 2010 to provide greater detail on metrics to improve energy efficiency in the IT industry. Below please find a copy of the Taskforce’s agreement on guiding principles for measuring energy efficiency in data centers and measurement protocols for PUE.

We hope that these principles will help you in your efforts to improve the efficiency of data centers, and welcome your questions by e-mail to buildings@energystar.gov.

The work on these guiding principles has been part of a greater joint initiative by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) called the National Data Center Energy Efficiency Information Program. The program coordinates a wide variety of activities from the EPA ENERGY STAR program, DOE Industrial Technologies Program Save Energy Now initiative, and the DOE Federal Energy Management Program.

ENERGY STAR Rating for Data Centers

In its 2007 Report to Congress on Server and Data Center Energy Efficiency Opportunities PDF (2.5MB), EPA estimated that the nation’s servers and data centers consumed about 61 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2006 (1.5 percent of total U.S. electricity consumption) for a total electricity cost of about $4.5 billion. As one of the fastest growing sectors, national energy consumption by servers and data centers could nearly double by 2011 to more than 100 billion kWh, representing a $7.4 billion annual electricity cost. However, there is significant potential for energy efficiency improvements in data centers.

Getting Started

Strategic energy management is the key to controlling energy consumption and operating costs. Use EPA's tools and resources below to help you establish an energy management program that includes benchmarking your data center’s energy performance, making no- and low-cost O&M improvements, and earning recognition for your successes.

Benchmark Your Data Center

Data center operators that want to assess the energy performance of their facilities can benchmark their data centers in Portfolio Manager to receive a 1-to-100 energy performance rating. The tools and resources below provide guidance on how to benchmark a data center.

Earn Recognition for Your Achievements

Join the growing group of organizations honored and recognized by EPA for their outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency.

ENERGY STAR Data Center Product Specifications

ENERGY STAR Computer Server Specification Development

EPA has launched the development process for the Version 2.0 specification for Computer Servers. Draft 1 of the specification revision was distributed to stakeholders on April 9, 2010 and EPA has held two stakeholder discussions to solicit feedback. All materials related to this effort are posted to the Version 2.0 specification development page at the link below.

ENERGY STAR Version 2.0 Server Specification Development Page

As part of Version 2.0, EPA will be investigating methods with which to evaluate efficiency of servers while completing actual computing, transitioning the program from the current foundation developed for the Version 1.0 specification. EPA developed the following position paper on the current state of energy benchmarking for servers. This paper was presented on behalf of EPA by the British Computing Society at the 2009 TPC Technical Committee conference in Lyon, France. The original publication is available at SpringerLink Exit ENERGY STAR.

Draft 1 of the ENERGY STAR Version 2.0 Computer Server specification is posted below along with related files.

EPA Finalized Version 1.0 of the Computer Server specification on May 15, 2009. Partners and other interested parties are encouraged to review materials related to development, and the final specification, at the link below.

ENERGY STAR Enterprise Servers Specification Development Archive Page

ENERGY STAR Data Center Storage Specification Development

EPA has launched the development process for the Version 1.0 Data Center Storage specification. An announcement letter was distributed on April 23, 2009 marking the start of the Product Development process. All information related to the specification development process can be found at the link below:

ENERGY STAR Data Center Storage Specification Development Page

EPA will be hosting an in-person stakeholder meeting to discuss comments received on the Draft 1 Version 1.0 ENERGY STAR Data Center Storage specification and to initiate the next round of storage data collection. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 20, 2010, from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM Pacific Time, at the Sainte Claire Hotel in San Jose, CA. For the convenience of stakeholders, this meeting is being held in conjunction with the Storage Networking Industry Association 2010 Summer Symposium. For more information on this event, visit: http://www.snia.org/about/calendar/ Exit ENERGY STAR.

A conference call line will be provided for those who cannot attend in person. Additional information will be distributed shortly. Please note: Whether you plan to attend in person or via conference call, you must RSVP to storage@energystar.gov no later than Friday, July 9, 2010.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pleased to announce the release of the Draft 1 Version 1.0 ENERGY STAR Data Center Storage specification. EPA welcomes your feedback on this document. Comments on Draft 1 are due via email to storage@energystar.gov no later than May 21, 2010.

ENERGY STAR Uninterruptible Power Supplies Specification Development

EPA has launched the development process for the Version 1.0 Uninterruptible Power Supplies specification. An announcement letter was distributed on February 3, 2010 marking the start of the Product Development process. All information related to the specification development process can be found at the link below:

ENERGY STAR Uninterruptible Power Supplies Specification Development Page