Data Centers Can Now Earn Energy Star Label
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced June 7 that stand-alone data centers and buildings that house large data centers can earn the Energy Star label by improving the efficiency levels to that of the top 25 percent of their peers as measured by the agency’s energy performance scale. For more information, visit www.energystar.gov/datacenters.
EPA uses the Power Usage Effectiveness metric. Before being awarded the Energy Star, a third-party licensed professional must independently verify the energy performance of these buildings and sign and seal the application document that is sent to EPA for review and approval.
Data centers are found in nearly every sector of the economy and deliver vital information technology services, including data storage, communications and Internet accessibility. They centers account for 1.5 percent of total U.S. electricity consumption at a cost of $4.5 billion annually, an amount that is expected to almost double over the next five years.
Based on the latest available data, improving the energy efficiency of America’s data centers by just 10 percent would save more than 6 billion kilowatt-hours each year, enough to power more than 350,000 homes and save more than $450 million annually.
Data centers can improve energy efficiency in many ways, such as purchasing Energy Star-qualified servers and ensuring that all HVAC equipment functions properly.
For information on the Energy Star label for commercial buildings, visit www.energystar.gov/labeledbuildings.