EPA releases server draft

• By Joab Jackson
• Jul 20, 2007

The Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program has released a draft of its specification for what constituents an energy-efficient server.

The top 25 percent of servers on the market, in terms of energy efficiency, should get to wear the Energy Star label, so the Specification Framework for Enterprise Computer Servers proposes.

"EPA is interested in engaging a wide variety of stakeholders, including private businesses, government agencies, equipment and component manufacturers and energy efficiency advocates, throughout this process," writes Andrew Fanara, the Energy Star program manager for product labeling.

Input will be accepted on the draft specification through Aug. 31, 2007. (A Web site has been set up for the specification, though the draft has not been placed there as of the time of this posting).

Although originally concentrating on encouraging makers of consumer electronics to reduce the power requirements of their products, the Energy Star program has turned its sites towards improving energy efficiency in the data center.