What’s NEW in the EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres (Energy Efficiency) 13th Edition 2022.

What’s “New” in the EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres (Energy Efficiency) 13^th Edition 2022?

The EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres (Energy Efficiency) (EUCOC) Best Practices comprise the most detailed energy efficiency and sustainability guidance available globally, and it is updated on an annual basis, the latest version the 2022, 13^th Edition has recently been published and is available on the following link https://e3p.jrc.ec.europa.eu/communities/data-centres-code-conduct

If you are a participant or endorser to the EUCOC, you should now take a quick review of the revised document and implement those best practices that you can or add them to your action plans for a future implementation. In addition, your annual report should be submitted by the due date, this is the sending of an updated 13^th edition reporting form (also available on the above link) to the EU-JRC on the email address provided, this annual update should provide comments on any new best practice implemented over the last year, an update to your action plan and revised energy data comprising total energy consumption and IT energy consumption. For endorsers, you should list your endorsing activities (such as website updates, case studies, training provided etc.).

The Introductory, Participant and Endorser Guides have also been updated and can be downloaded from the above link.

The ”Reporting Form” contains the following tabs:

Cover – This tab contains some basic information about how to complete the form using the provided links (in blue or orange).

Instructions – This tab contains additional information to assist in the completion of the reporting form.

FAQs – This tab contains some frequently asked questions.

Data Centre Information – This tab should be completed by the applicant and includes general information about the data centre.

Best Practices – This tab contains all the best practices and should be completed as follows:

An “I” or an “E” should be placed in the appropriate column G-J dependent on the guidance as contained in Columns K-N.

All applicants should put a comment in Column O as to how they have achieved the best practice, in Column P if there is a reason why this best practice cannot be implemented in the data centre, a comment in Column Q if you have added the best practice to your action plan, and in column R if you are endorsing the best practice to your clients or suppliers, this can be via SLA’s, Terms and Conditions or via Service Take On Processes.

Utility Energy Measurement – This is your total energy consumption for the entire facility and should be recorded on a monthly basis.

IT Measurement – This is your total IT energy consumption and should be recorded on a monthly basis.

Lists – EU-JRC Use ONLY!

Revised Best Practices

The following best practices have been revised or updated as per the annual update meeting.

Section 3 Updates

3.2.4 Lifecycle Assessment

This best practice has been elevated from an optional best practice to one for new build and retrofit commencing 2022, the text of the best practice is as follows:

Introduce a plan for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in accordance with EU guidelines and internationally standardised methodologies. Examples of which would be ISO 14040 and ISO 14044.

EN 15978 'Sustainability of construction works - assessment of environmental performance of buildings - calculation method' is also a standard that is considered relevant to this Practice.

Note: This Practice aims to reduce overall carbon footprint and improve sustainability rather than directly improve energy efficiency.

And the following sentence has been added.

A list of recommended environmental sustainability practices is available in the CEN/CENELEC document CLC/TR 50600-99-2.

Section 4 Updates

4.1.2 New IT hardware – Restricted (legacy) operating temperatures and humidity range

Numbering for referenced best practices changed from 5.1.11, 5.1.12 and 5.1.13 to 5.1.11, 5.3.4 and 5.3.5.

4.1.3 New IT hardware – Expected operating temperature and humidity range.

Numbering for referenced best practices changed from 5.1.12 to 5.3.4 for new build data centres

4.1.6 IT equipment power usage against inlet temperature

Description changed from “As a minimum comply with the EU Eco Design Directive” to “As a minimum comply with the EU Eco Design Directive and Lot 9 amendments to EU Commission regulation for servers and online storage systems”.

4.1.7 Select equipment suitable for the data centre – air flow direction

Numbering for referenced best practices changed from 5.1.11, 5.1.12 and 5.1.13 to 5.1.11, 5.3.4 and 5.3.5.

4.1.10 EU Eco Design/Energy Star compliant hardware

4.1.13 When forced to use, select free standing equipment suitable for the data centre – air flow direction

Numbering for referenced best practices changed from 5.1.11, 5.1.12 and 5.1.13 to 5.1.11, 5.3.4 and 5.3.5.

4.2.1 Name Change “Deploy using Grid and Virtualisation technologies” changed to “Deploy Virtualisation technologies”

4.3.4 Consolidation of existing services

This best practice has been elevated from an optional best practice to “Entire Data Centre”

4.3.5 Decommission low business value services

This best practice has been elevated from an optional best practice to “Entire Data Centre”

4.3.6 Shut down and consider removal of idle equipment

This best practice has been elevated from an optional best practice to “Entire Data Centre”

4.3.8 Audit of existing IT equipment environmental requirements

Numbering for referenced best practices changed from 5.1.11, 5.1.12 and 5.1.13 to 5.1.11, 5.3.4 and 5.3.5.

4.4.4 Select lower power storage devices

Description changed from “Additionally reference and use the current U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR specifications for Data Center Storage” to “Additionally consider referencing and using the current U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR specifications for Data Center Storage.”

Section 5 Updates

5.1.3 Design, contained hot or cold air – Retrofit has been rectified, it was showing as an “entire data centre” best practice and coloured green in both the best practice guide and the reporting form, it has now been changed to “new build and retrofit” and the background colour changed to light blue.

5.1.12 Separate environmental zones has been moved to 5.3.4

5.1.13 Separate environmental zones – Colocation or Managed Service Providers has been moved to 5.3.5

5.1.14 Control of supplied air flow volume minimizing over pressure has been renumbered to 5.1.12

5.2.2 Shut down unnecessary cooling equipment, the value has been changed from 3 to 4.

5.2.3 Review of cooling before IT equipment changes, the value has been changed from 3 to 4.

5.2.4 Define and review of cooling strategy, the value has been changed from 3 to 4.

5.2.5 Review CRAC/CRAH Settings, the value has been changed from 3 to 4.

5.2.8 Review and optimise chilled water temperature, this best practice has been moved and renumbered, from 5.3.4 to 5.2.8

5.3.1 Review and if possible, raise target IT equipment intake air temperature, numbering for referenced best practices changed from 5.1.11, 5.1.12 and 5.1.13 to 5.1.11, 5.3.4 and 5.3.5.

5.3.2 Review and widen the working humidity range, numbering for referenced best practices changed from 5.1.11, 5.1.12 and 5.1.13 to 5.1.11, 5.3.4 and 5.3.5.

5.3.4 Review and optimise chilled water temperature, this best practice has been moved and renumbered, from 5.3.4 to 5.2.8

5.3.4 Separate environmental zones, this best practice has been moved and renumbered from 5.1.12 to 5.3.4 and “expected status” from Entire Data Centre to New Build and Retrofit.

5.3.5 Separate environmental zones, Colocation or Managed Service Providers, this best practice has been moved from 5.1.13 to 5.3.5 and “expected status” from Entire Data Centre to New Build and Retrofit.

5.4.1.7 Alternative cooling sources, description changed from “Evaluate alternative forms of cooling where available, practical to utilise and offer genuine energy efficiency including Ground Source Cooling from rivers, lakes and seawater etc.” to “Evaluate alternative forms of cooling where available, practical to utilise and offer genuine energy efficiency including Ground Source Cooling from rivers, lakes, boreholes and seawater etc.” and the value changed from 1 to 4.

5.7.1 Waste heat reuse, description changed from “It may be possible to provide low grade heating to industrial space or to other targets such as adjacent office space fresh air directly from heat rejected from the data centre. This does not reduce the energy consumed by the data centre itself but does offset the total energy overhead by potentially reducing energy use elsewhere” to “Evaluate the possibility of providing grade heating to industrial space or to other targets such as adjacent office space fresh air directly from heat rejected from the data centre. This does not reduce the energy consumed by the data centre itself but does offset the total energy overhead by potentially reducing energy use elsewhere. Expected status has been changed from “optional” to “New build and retrofit” Value changed from 3 to 4.

5.7.2 Heat pump assisted waste heat reuse, description changed from “Where it is not possible to directly re use the waste heat from the data centre due to the temperature being too low it can still be economic to use additional heat pumps to raise the temperature to a useful point. This can potentially supply office, district and other heating needs” to “Where it is not possible to directly re-use the waste heat from the data centre due to the temperature being too low it can still be economic to use additional heat pumps to raise the temperature to a useful point. This possibility should be evaluated and can potentially supply office, district and other heating needs. Expected status has been changed from “optional” to “New build and retrofit” Value changed from 3 to 4.

5.7.3 Use data floor waste heat to warm office, generator and fuel storage areas, description changed from “Reduce or eliminate the electrical preheat loads for generators and fuel storage by using warm exhaust air from the data floor to maintain temperature in the areas housing generators and fuel storage tanks and office areas” to “Evaluate reducing or eliminating the electrical preheat loads for generators and fuel storage by using warm exhaust air from the data floor to maintain temperature in the areas housing generators, fuel storage tanks and office areas. Value changed from 1 to 2.

Section 6 Updates

6.1.2 High efficiency UPS, description changed from

“High efficiency UPS systems should be selected, of any technology including electronic or rotary to meet site requirements. This Practice should be implemented in line with the IEC 62040 series for UPS systems”

“If static AC UPS systems are to be installed select energy efficient UPS systems that are compliant with the “elite requirements” of the 2021 version of the EU Code of Conduct on Energy Efficiency of AC Uninterruptible Power Systems. A UPS compliant to this Code of Conduct requirement should also be compliant to IEC 62040 series for UPS systems, which also provides environmental operating conditions. A UPS conforming to this standard should be able to perform as rated when operating within the following minimum ambient ranges: Temperature 0°C to +40°C. Relative Humidity 20% to 80%

Note: Rotary and Direct Current UPS systems are not included in the 2021 version of the EU Code of Conduct on AC Uninterruptible Power Systems, but this does not in any way suggest that rotary or Direct Current UPS should not be used, rather that these technologies are not currently covered by an EU Code of Conduct providing shared evidence of meeting high efficiency requirements for these systems.

Also consider referencing and using the current U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR specifications for Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)

6.1.4 EU Code of Conduct Compliant UPS, Merged with 6.1.2

6.1.5 Elimination of Isolation Transformers, renumbered to 6.1.4

6.1.6 Efficient part load operation, renumbered to 6.1.5

Section 7 – No Updates

Section 8 Updates

8.2.1 Locate the Data Centre where waste heat can be reused, value changed from 2 to 3.

8.2.2 Locate the Data Centre in an area of low ambient temperature, description changed from “Free and economised cooling technologies are more effective in areas of low ambient external temperature and or humidity.

Note: Most temperature climates including much of Northern, Western and Central Europe present significant opportunity for economised cooling and zero refrigeration.

“Free and economised cooling technologies are more effective in areas of low ambient external temperature and or humidity.

Note: Most temperature climates present significant opportunity for economised cooling and zero refrigeration.

Section 9 Updates

9.2.2 Automated Daily Readings has been rectified, it was showing as an “entire data centre” best practice and coloured green in both the best practice guide and the reporting form, it has now been changed to “new build and retrofit” and the background colour changed to light blue.

9.3.1 Written report, Name changed from “written report” to “written reporting”, description changed from “Minimum reporting consists of periodic written reports on energy consumption and environmental ranges. This should include determining the averaged DCiE or PUE over the reporting period.

Note: This is already mandated by the Code of Conduct reporting requirements. This report may be produced by an automated system.

Note: All DCiE and PUE calculations should be completed according to the guidelines set out by EN 50600-4-2 which is equivalent to ISO/IEC 30134-2.

EN 50600-4-2:2016 “Information technology — Data centre facilities and infrastructures — Part 4-2: Power Usage Effectiveness”.

Note: Different categories of PUE ranging from 0 to 3 representing increasing levels of reporting granularity.

All written reports and submissions should reference the Category being reported and ensure that the required method of data collection and calculation determined by EN 50600-4-2 or ISO/IEC 30134-2.

“Minimum reporting consists of periodic written reports on energy consumption and environmental ranges.

All written reports and submissions should reference the Category being reported and ensure that the required method of data collection and calculation determined by the Standardised ISO KPIs from the ISO/IEC 30134 series (or EN 50600 equivalent), should be used in all reports, written or otherwise if reported. These Standardised KPIs include PUE, pPUE, REF, ITEESV, ITEUSV, ERF, CER, CUE, WUE.

Note: Determining the averaged DCiE or PUE over the reporting period is already mandated by the Code of Conduct reporting requirements. This report may be produced by an automated system.

Note: All DCiE and PUE calculations should be completed according to the guidelines set out by EN 50600-4-2 which is equivalent to ISO/IEC 30134-2.

EN 50600-4-2:2016 “Information technology — Data centre facilities and infrastructures — Part 4-2: Power Usage Effectiveness”.

Note: Different categories of PUE ranging from 0 to 3 representing increasing levels of reporting granularity.

9.3.2 Energy and environmental reporting console, description changed from “An automated energy and environmental reporting console to allow M&E staff to monitor the energy use and efficiency of the facility provides enhanced capability. Averaged and instantaneous DCiE or PUE are reported. This supersedes Written Report.

See Note in section 9.3.1 above with regard to correct method of calculation.

“An automated energy and environmental reporting console to allow M&E staff to monitor the energy use and efficiency of the facility provides enhanced capability.

This supersedes the requirements for Written Reporting.

See section 9.3.1 above with regard to correct method of calculation and the use of Standardised ISO/IEC KPIs or European equivalents if reported.

9.3.3 Integrated IT/M&E energy and environmental reporting console, description changed from

“An integrated energy and environmental reporting capability in the main IT reporting console allows integrated management of energy use and comparison of IT workload with energy use.

Averaged, instantaneous and working range DCiE or PUE are reported and related to IT workload.

Supersedes Written Report and Energy and environmental reporting console. This reporting may be enhanced by the integration of effective physical and logical asset and configuration data.

See Note in section 9.3.1 above with regard to correct method of calculation.”

“An integrated energy and environmental reporting capability in the main IT reporting console allows integrated management of energy use and comparison of IT workload with energy use.

Averaged, instantaneous and working ranges of Standardised ISO/IEC KPIs are reported and related to IT workload.

This supersedes Written Reporting and Energy and environmental reporting console. This reporting may be enhanced by the integration of effective physical, logical asset and configuration data.

See section 9.3.1 above with regard to correct method of calculation and the use of Standardised ISO/IEC KPIs or European equivalents if reported.

9.3.5 Partial PUE Reporting, moved from Section 10

Description “Report partial PUE according to EN 50600-4-2 or ISO/IEC 30134-2. If partial PUE is reported the Standardised KPI should be used.