42 USC 17112 - Energy efficiency for data center buildings

U.S Code last checked for updates: Feb 22, 2025

§ 17112.

Energy efficiency for data center buildings

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Data center

The term “data center” means any facility that primarily contains electronic equipment used to process, store, and transmit digital information, which may be—

(A)

a free-standing structure; or

(B)

a facility within a larger structure, that uses environmental control equipment to maintain the proper conditions for the operation of electronic equipment.

(2)

Data center operator

(b)

Voluntary national information program

(1)

In general

(2)

Requirements

The program described in paragraph (1) shall—

(A)

address data center efficiency holistically, reflecting the total energy consumption of data centers as whole systems, including both equipment and facilities;

(B)

consider prior work and studies undertaken in this area, including by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy;

(C)

consistent with the objectives described in paragraph (1), determine the type of data center and data center equipment and facilities to be covered under the program;

(D)

produce specifications, measurements, best practices, and benchmarks that will enable data center operators to make more informed decisions about the energy efficiency and costs of data centers, and that take into account—

(i)

the performance and use of servers, data storage devices, and other information technology equipment;

(ii)

the efficiency of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, cooling, and power conditioning systems, provided that no modification shall be required of a standard then in effect under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.) for any covered heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, cooling or power-conditioning product;

(iii)

energy savings from the adoption of software and data management techniques; and

(iv)

other factors proposed by the stakeholders described in subsection (c);

(E)

allow for creation of separate specifications, measurements, and benchmarks based on data center size and function, as well as other appropriate characteristics;

(F)

advance the design and implementation of efficiency technologies to the maximum extent economically practical;

(G)

provide to data center operators in the private sector and the Federal Government information about best practices and purchasing decisions that reduce the energy consumption of data centers; and

(H)

publish the information described in subparagraph (G), which may be disseminated through catalogs, trade publications, the Internet, or other mechanisms, that will allow data center operators to assess the energy consumption and potential cost savings of alternative data centers and data center equipment and facilities.

(c)

Stakeholder involvement

(1)

In general

(2)

Considerations

In carrying out the collaboration described in paragraph (1), the Secretary and the Administrator shall pay particular attention to organizations that—

(A)

have members with expertise in energy efficiency and in the development, operation, and functionality of data centers, information technology equipment, and software, including representatives of hardware manufacturers, data center operators, and facility managers;

(B)

obtain and address input from the National Laboratories (as that term is defined in section 15801) of this title, or any institution of higher education, research institution, industry association, company, or public interest group with applicable expertise;

(C)

follow—

(i)

commonly accepted procedures for the development of specifications; and

(ii)

accredited standards development processes; or

(D)

have a mission to promote energy efficiency for data centers and information technology.

(d)

Measurements and specifications

(e)

Study

(1)

Definition of report

(2)

Study

Not later than 4 years after December 27, 2020, the Secretary, in collaboration with the Administrator, shall make available to the public an update to the report that provides—

(A)

a comparison and gap analysis of the estimates and projections contained in the report with new data regarding the period from 2015 through 2019;

(B)

an analysis considering the impact of information technologies, including virtualization and cloud computing, in the public and private sectors;

(C)

an evaluation of the impact of the combination of cloud platforms, mobile devices, social media, and big data on data center energy usage;

(D)

an evaluation of water usage in data centers and recommendations for reductions in that water usage; and

(E)

updated projections and recommendations for best practices through fiscal year 2025.

(f)

Data center energy practitioner program

(1)

In general

(2)

Evaluations

(g)

Open data initiative

(1)

In general

(2)

Consideration

(h)

International specifications and metrics

(i)

Data center utilization metric

(j)

Protection of proprietary information

(Pub. L. 110–140, title IV, § 453, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1637; Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title I, § 1003, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2426.)

cite as: 42 USC 17112