2. Background to the EU Code of Conduct for
Data Centres
Mike Walker
Sustainable Energy Using Products
3. What we do
• Increase the sustainability of energy using products
by means of a range of product policies
• EU wide minimum energy performance and energy
labelling standards
• Supply chain and international engagement, including
Codes of Conduct
... aimed at meeting the 2009 Low Carbon Transition
Plan commitment to save 15 MtCO2 pa by 2020 in
the UK
5. Development of the policy
• Defra works on setting EU Ecodesign minimum
standards and Energy Labelling for energy using
products.
• Product specific ecodesign minimum energy
performance standards that might affect a data
centre system:
• Lighting • Computers / Displays (late 2012)
• Air con • Servers (after 2013)
• Fans
• Ecodesign goes some way to reduce energy
consumption of data centres, but not enough or
appropriate to address the whole system!
6. Development of the policy (2)
• EU electricity consumption of data centres was 56
TWh in 2007 and is expected to rise to 104 TWh by
2020
• A holistic approach is needed to reduce these figures
• No clear EU regulatory or voluntary initiatives in
place:
• Risk of confusion for stakeholders
• Mixed messages
• Uncoordinated activities
7. Mandatory vs Voluntary initiative
• Very difficult to regulate data centres using minimum
energy performance standards under Ecodesign:
• Fast changing technology
• Every system is different
• How to enforce?
• Benefits of a voluntary approach:
• Flexibility for different types of data centres
• Flexibility to follow technological progress
• Can target many different stakeholders
... So a voluntary approach favoured to address data
centres – the EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres
8. What is the Code of Conduct for data
centres?
• EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres developed by
European Commission’s JRC, with support from
Defra, BCS & other stakeholders and launched in
London in November 2008
• Code of Conduct “multipurpose” helping to:
• Raise awareness;
• Set targets;
• Support procurement;
• Provide reference for other participants.
• Designed to trigger action for a data centre to improve
energy performance through adoption of best
practices and to recognise those who do so.
• Signatory status for Participants and Endorsers
9. Why should you sign up?
• Greener and more efficient data centres
• Large CO2 savings
• Large cost savings
• Procurement tool - CoC Logo makes you stand
out from your competitors
• Corporate Social Responsibility targets
.
10. Snapshot of UK Government activity
• Cabinet Office GDU working on Greening Government ICT with
greener standards for data centres
• Greening Government ICT Strategy with commitment to adopt
CoC by April 2012; sign up as Endorsers by April 2013; sign up
new data centres as Participants from April 2014 onwards
• Greening Government ICT Roadmap
• Green ICT Workbook
• Maturity Model
• All available at: https://update.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-
library/uk-government-ict-strategy-resources
11. Snapshot of CoC activity within UK
What is Defra doing?
Government
• Defra signed up as Endorser in 2010 and our IT
providers are a Corporate Participant to the CoC
• Working with other Government Departments to help
sign up as Endorsers (many already require IT
providers to be Participants)
• Looking to include aspects of the Code in the upcoming
Government Buying Standards for Data Centres
• Exploring options to increase visibility and support on
the Code in the UK
12. A request for information....
• Want to assess benefits of the CoC in the UK
• Looking to assemble case studies to get a
snapshot of savings, implementation issues and
recommendations across the UK
• If willing to take part, contact:
• Efficient.products@defra.gsi.gov.uk
13. Thanks!
EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres website:
http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/energyefficiency/html
/standby_initiative_data_centers.htm
Defra SEUP website:
http://efficient-products.defra.gov.uk/
efficient.products@defra.gsi.gov.uk
