Enterprise Server and Data Center Energy Efficiency Initiatives

EPA is working with all interested parties to identify ways in which energy efficiency can be measured, documented, and implemented in data centers and the equipment they house, especially servers. Provided below are EPA's current initiatives in this area:

• National Data Center Energy Efficiency Information Program
• EPA Report to Congress on Server and Data Center Energy Efficiency
• ENERGY STAR Enterprise Server Specification Development Process
• Data Collection Initiative to Develop an ENERGY STAR Rating for Data Centers

National Data Center Energy Efficiency Information Program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have initiated a joint national data center energy efficiency information program. The program coordinates a wide variety of activities from the DOE Industrial Technologies Program Save Energy Now initiative, the DOE Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), and the EPA ENERGY STAR program.

The following fact sheets summarize ongoing efforts at DOE and EPA to provide information, tools, and resources to owners and operators of data centers to assist in their efforts to reduce energy consumption in their buildings. They also provide links to a wide variety of organizations outside of the Federal government that can be of help in your efforts to improve energy efficiency.

• Fact sheet for the National Data Center Energy Efficiency Information Program (225KB)
• Short fact sheet for the National Data Center Energy Efficiency Information Program (85KB)

EPA Report to Congress on Server and Data Center Energy Efficiency

On August 2, 2007 and in response to Public Law 109-431 (31KB) the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR Program released to Congress a report assessing opportunities for energy efficiency improvements for government and commercial computer servers and data centers in the United States.

The study projects near-term growth in energy use of U.S. computer servers and data centers, assesses potential cost and energy savings related to computer server and data center energy efficiency improvements, and recommends potential incentives and voluntary programs to promote energy-efficient computer servers and data centers. The report complements EPA’s ongoing efforts to develop new energy efficiency specifications for data servers, including market and technical research, industry collaboration, and explorations into a new ENERGY STAR buildings benchmark for data centers which reflects whole building operations.

The report recommends a mix of programs and incentives, as well as a holistic approach to achieve significant savings. Recommendations include:

• Collaborating with industry and other stakeholders on the development of a standardized whole-building performance rating system for data centers.
• Federal leadership through implementation of best practices for its own facilities.
• Development of ENERGY STAR specifications for servers and related product categories.
• Encouraging electric utilities to offer financial incentives to facilitate datacenter energy efficiency improvements.
• The Federal government should partner with industry to issue a CEO Challenge, for private-sector CEOs to assess and improve the energy efficiency of their data centers.
• Public/private research and development into advanced technology and practices including computing software, IT hardware, power conversion, heat removal, controls and management, and cross-cutting activities.

On Thursday August 9, 2007 EPA hosted a Web based discussion on its Report to Congress on Server and Data Center Energy Efficiency Opportunities.

EPA Final Report to Congress (2.5MB)

EPA Final Report to Congress — Appendices (1.5MB)

EPA Final Report to Congress — Executive Summary (185KB)

EPA Press Release

EPA would like to thank all industry stakeholders for their valuable insight and contributions to this effort. To view documents related to the report development process visit EPA Server and Data Center Report.

ENERGY STAR Enterprise Server Specification Development Process

EPA is currently developing a new product specification for enterprise servers. Partners and other interested parties who would like to participate in this process are encouraged to contact Andrew Fanara, EPA, at Fanara.andrew@epa.gov.

ENERGY STAR Enterprise Servers Specification Development Page

Data Collection Initiative to Develop an ENERGY STAR Rating for Data Centers

Sign-up extended to July 1, 2008.

To assist data center operators in capturing the financial and environmental benefits of improved energy efficiency in their facilities, EPA is developing an ENERGY STAR rating for data center infrastructure. However, to develop the rating, EPA must first collect data on energy use and operating characteristics from a large number of existing data centers, including both stand-alone facilities as well as data centers located in office and other types of buildings. EPA needs the help of industry stakeholders to make this effort a success, and everyone has a role to play in this effort:

• Data center owners/operators — Measure and submit energy data for your facility.
• Industry Associations — Get the word out to your members and encourage them to particpate.
• Equipment suppliers and consultants — Inform your customers/clients and encourage them to participate.

Provided below are a number of documents to help you, your members, or your clients get started.

• Expression of Interest Form (201KB) — Data center operators intending to collect and provide energy data should complete and return this form as soon as possible, and no later than July 1, 2008.
• Data Collection Instructions (75KB) — Provides step-by-step instructions for data center operators on how to participate in the data collection effort.
• Data Collection Form (350KB) — Excel spreadsheet where data center operators should record their energy data and other requested information.
• Overview Presentation (234KB) — Powerpoint providing background on the ENERGY STAR Buildings program and the goals, process, and timeline for developing the ENERGY STAR rating for data center infrastructure.

Progress Update

As of May 30, 2008, over 120 data centers from more than 60 organizations have signed up to participate in the data collection. EPA thanks the following organizations for their participation or support of this initiative:

365 Main Inc.
7x24 Exchange
ADP Inc.
Computershare
Data Center Operations Council (Corporate Executive Board)
Digital Realty Trust, Inc.
EMC2
Hill Environmental Operations
Hosting.com
JCPenney Company, Inc.
Juniper Networks, Inc.
Rackspace
Raritan Inc.
The Green Grid
The Uptime Institute and Site Uptime Network
United Parcel Service
Unum
VISI

EPA will be holding regular webinars to assist participants throughout the data collection process, and to present preliminary findings. Please check this website for updated schedules. Below are the presentation and audio recording of a recent Q&A session held on May 6, 2008.

• Q&A Presentation (98KB) — Overview of the progress of the data collection initiative, as well as answers to some of the frequently asked questions about how to collect the data required.
• Audio Recording — Listen to the presentation and live Q&A session that took place: (please note that technical difficulties were experienced with the phone system, and there are some breaks in the audio as a result)

For more information, and to submit Expression of Interest forms, please contact us at ENERGYSTARdatacenters@icfi.com.