365 Main announced today that it has joined the Energy Star program as a partner, becoming the first data center specialist to participate in the Environmental Protection Agency's program to rate commercial buildings. 365 Main will also participate in the EPA's future development of an Energy Star energy performance rating customized for data center facilities.
The specialized nature of data centers makes it more difficult to measure their energy efficiency using programs designed for office buildings. These include the LEED "green building" certification system from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as well as the Energy Star program for buildings. While it is best known for its energy ratings for appliances, Energy Star has also has certified more 4,350 buildings as meeting its guidelines.
As an Energy Star partner, 365 Main agrees to measure and track energy performance using tools offered by Energy Star, and implement a plan to achieve energy savings consistent with the program's guidelines.
"EPA would like to congratulate 365 Main for joining ENERGY STAR as a partner," said Jean Lupinacci, Chief of EPA's ENERGY STAR Commercial Buildings program. "Strategic energy management is a critical element in our efforts on climate change, and by joining ENERGY STAR, 365 Main is helping lead the way to greater energy savings in the data center industry and real results for the environment."
"365 Main brings to the table our expertise from operating more than one million square feet of data center space nationwide across five facilities, as well as our experience with reducing energy use through green programs offered by PG&E and our involvement with groups such as the Green Grid and U.S. Green Building Council," said J.P. Balajadia, SVP of engineering for 365 Main.
365 Main also said it will work with EPA in developing an Energy Star Infrastructure Rating for Data Centers. The effort, still in its early stages, is designed to make it possible for data center facilities to earn Energy Star certification for superior energy-efficiency. Energy Star is gathering feedback from data center operators about the power usage of these facilities and how best to develop appropriate rating criteria.
Energy Star was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. The Energy Star label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products, new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. The EPA estimates that the initiative has saved Americans about $14 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 25 million vehicles.
