(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 determined by the organization 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.