EPA expands drive to curb data center energy use

EPA is expanding its voluntary Energy Star appliance energy efficiency program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from data centers, updating the specification for certification of data storage products under the program as the agency seeks ways to reduce the enormous energy consumption of such facilities. “The data center computing sector is growing rapidly. Reducing the sector’s annual 70 billion-plus [kilowatt-hour] use is essential to fighting the climate crisis,” said acting EPA air chief Joseph Goffman in an Aug. 16 statement...