Launch of NABERS rating system for data centres

Australia is assisting business to gauge energy consumption with the launch of an energy-efficiency rating system for data centres.

“The NABERS Energy for data centres rating system is a fantastic outcome of collaboration between the Australian and NSW governments,” said Yvette D’Ath, the Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.

“With data centres responsible for around 1.5% of Australia’s total annual energy consumption, the new system will provide managers with a benchmark of energy efficiency and allow for informed decisions on upgrading facilities and equipment.”

The NABERS Energy for data centres rating system is the first in the world able to measure and score the operational energy efficiency of IT equipment housed by a data centre. It measures processing and storage capacity and determines the corresponding energy star rating.

The system also assesses the efficiency of infrastructure services, such as air conditioning and lighting, and combines the IT and infrastructure elements to assess the energy efficiency of the data centre as a whole.

The rating system was launched on Friday by NSW Minister for the Environment Robyn Parker and is jointly funded by the Federal Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (NSW OEH). It will be managed by NSW OEH, the National Administrator for NABERS rating systems for buildings.

D’Ath encouraged interested parties to contact the NSW OEH for information on the new rating system, including training for existing NABERS assessors.

“Alternatively, representatives of my department and the NABERS team from NSW OEH will attend the 2013 Australian Data Centre Strategy Summit on the Gold Coast next week and will be available to discuss the new rating system,” she said.

Further information can be found at www.nabers.gov.au.