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Emerson Helps the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Start Building an Energy Ratings System for Data Centers

Posted on: Monday, 28 April 2008, 09:00 CDT

Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE:EMR) and the global leader in enabling Business-Critical Continuity™, is teaming up with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other industry partners to build a ratings system to help companies minimize data center energy consumption. The eventual result will be an ENERGY STAR™ Data Center Infrastructure Rating similar to the EPA's ENERGY STAR ratings programs for facilities in several other industries.

The issue is now a critical one for businesses large and small as energy consumption doubled at the nation's data centers between 2000 and 2006, and government statistics predict it to double again by 2011. Therefore, the EPA and Emerson are actively collecting information from current operators in order to obtain baseline data on which the new ratings will be devised.

"We believe that data centers, like automobiles, should consume energy in a way that operators can understand--just as we understand vehicles' consumption by measuring miles per gallon," said Jack Pouchet, director of energy initiatives for Emerson Network Power and an established contributor to the EPA's work in this field. "As the leading provider of data center infrastructure technologies, we at Emerson will reach out to our customers to encourage their involvement in this important initiative."

Emerson's proactive encouragement of participation in the program is intended to help the EPA achieve its goal of signing up at least 100 businesses within the next month. Data centers of at least 1,000 square feet are desired. The information will be masked, untraceable to any particular company, and will not be otherwise released. The deadline to submit an expression of interest to the EPA is June 1, 2008. Participants must collect 12 consecutive months of IT and building energy-use data, and submit the information to the EPA by June 1, 2009. Please visit www.emersonnetworkpower.com/energystar for more information and to sign up.

Organizations that engage Emerson for a data center assessment will receive complimentary assistance in compiling information for the EPA study and establishing an internal reporting system for that purpose.

"We are delighted to see a market leader such as Emerson supporting our efforts to build this critical knowledge base of data center energy consumption," said Mike Zatz of the EPA. "We look forward to Emerson's continued support as we work to build an ENERGY STAR classification for data centers."

About Emerson Network Power

Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE:EMR), is the global leader in enabling Business-Critical Continuity™ from grid to chip for telecommunication networks, data centers, health care and industrial facilities. Emerson Network Power provides innovative solutions and expertise in areas including AC and DC power and precision cooling systems, embedded computing and power, integrated racks and enclosures, power switching and controls, monitoring, and connectivity. All solutions are supported globally by local Emerson Network Power service technicians. Learn more about Emerson Network Power products and services at www.emersonnetworkpower.com.

About Emerson

Emerson (NYSE: EMR), based in St. Louis, is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions to customers through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses. Sales in fiscal 2007 were $22.6 billion. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com.

Source: Business Wire

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