Stay on top of Green IT regulations
Find links and resources below to help keep you informed about what plans the government and industry associations have for Green IT.
EPEAT is a system that helps purchasers evaluate, compare and select electronic products based on their environmental attributes. The system currently covers desktop and laptop computers, thin clients, workstations and computer monitors.
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
- Energy Star* 5.0 Computer Specifications Final Version
- Final Energy Star 5.0 Verification Testing Guidelines and Procedures Manual V1.0.
- Energy Star Program for Retailers
- Energy Star for Small Business Program
- Small Business Administration site for Energy Star
- ENERGY STAR technical assistance for activating computer power management features
- Product Purchasing and Computer Power Management for Federal Agencies
On June 30, 2010, EPA finalized and distributed the Conditions and Criteria for Recognition of Laboratories and Accreditation Bodies for the ENERGY STAR program, and the applications for EPA recognition are now available:
- Application for EPA Recognition of an Accreditation Body
- Application for EPA Recognition of an Accredited Laboratory
If your organization is interested in becoming an EPA-recognized AB or laboratory for the ENERGY STAR program, please download, complete, and submit to EPA either the AB or laboratory application. Specific instructions are included on the first page of both applications. Upon confirmation of EPA recognition, you may begin to operate as an EPA-recognized AB or laboratory for the ENERGY STAR program. If you have any questions regarding the application process, please email ENERGYSTARVerificationProgram@energystar.gov.
Recommendations for Measuring and Reporting Overall Data Center Efficiency
On January 13, 2010, eight leading organizations that set or use data center energy efficiency metrics, including the 7×24 Exchange, ASHRAE, The Green Grid, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, U.S. Department of Energy’s Save Energy Now and Federal Energy Management Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Program, U.S. Green Building Council, and Uptime Institute, met to discuss these metrics for data centers and formed a task force to further define these measurements. This task force, which has met regularly since the initial summit, has prepared the attached Recommendations for Measuring and Reporting Overall Data Center Efficiency. The goal of this document is to recommend a consistent and repeatable measurement strategy that allows data center operators to monitor and improve the energy efficiency of their facilities. A consistent measurement approach will facilitate communication of Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), the recommended energy efficiency metric from the agreed upon guiding principles, among data center owners and operators. More information about the guiding principles from the January meeting can be found here.
The attached document addresses how to measure PUE in dedicated data centers. The task force will continue to meet to develop recommendations for how to measure PUE for data centers in larger mixed-use facilities.
We hope that these recommendations help you understand how to measure and publish overall data center infrastructure energy efficiency, and we welcome any questions by e-mail to ENERGYSTARdatacenters@icfi.com.
Advocacy Update