UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCYWASHINGTON, D.C. 20460

OFFICE OF AIR AND
RADIATION

December 2, 2021
Dear ENERGY STAR® Data Center Storage Partner or Other Interested Stakeholder,With this letter, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is sharing proposed changes to the Version
2.0 ENERGY STAR Data Center Storage Specification, which expands the marketing requirements for data
center storage products. EPA welcomes stakeholder input on this proposal, which will be reflected in a Version
2.1 specification once final. These proposed changes will apply to products certified after Version 2.1 isfinalized. While currently certified products will not need to be retested to maintain their ENERGY STAR
certification, EPA strongly encourages partners to make this information available for currently certified
products as soon as possible.
EPA has engaged with stakeholders since the release of the Version 2.0 Data Center Storage specification
regarding the verification procedures for this uniquely complicated product type. Recognizing that operators
have access to real-time power and temperature data from each product via Data Center Information
Management (DCIM) software, this allows them to manage IT hardware and observe when individual units falloutside of expected operating parameters. EPA has concluded that the presence of this DCIM software
combined with certification data provides a high level of transparency regarding performance. EPA has also
learned that there would be benefit in providing customers with additional information on ENERGY STARproducts. In many cases, key efficiency information is missing from brand owner websites or not provided tocustomers. As such, EPA will require that product websites clearly indicate those elements of the productfamily that are ENERGY STAR certified, what COMs are made available for the product, and the minimum
power supply that is provided with the product. EPA believes these pieces of information will allow
stakeholders to provide more transparency to their customers. Discussions with stakeholders and a review ofthe market affirm that no other changes to this specification are warranted at this time. This requirement isnoted in Section 3.5.8 excerpted below.
3.5.8 Report the web link to the following product information made clearly visible on partner primarymarketing and/or product summary websites:i. Identification of configurations within a model line that are included in the ENERGY STAR certified
product family;
ii. COMs available for the product;iii. Minimum power supply efficiency offered within the product family (preferably as an 80
Plus equivalent statement).
Stakeholders may submit any comments on this Version 2.1 specification to storage@energystar.gov byDecember 16, 2021. All comments will be posted to the ENERGY STAR Product Development website unlessthe submitter requests otherwise.
The exchange of ideas and information between EPA, industry, and other interested parties is critical to thesuccess of ENERGY STAR. Specifications and meeting materials will be distributed via email and posted onthe ENERGY STAR website. To track EPA’s progress on this specification, please visit the data center storage
product development website.
Please contact me at Fogle.Ryan@epa.gov or 202-343-9153 or John Clinger, ICF, at John.Clinger@icf.com or(215) 967-9407 with questions or concerns. For any other Data Center Storage related questions, pleasecontact storage@energystar.gov. Thank you for your continued support of the ENERGY STAR program.

Sincerely,Ryan Fogle
EPA Manager, ENERGY STAR for IT and Data Center Products

For more information, visit: www.energystar.gov
This message was sent to you on behalf of ENERGY STAR. Each ENERGY STAR partner organization must haveat least one primary contact receiving e-mail to maintain partnership. If you are no longer working on ENERGY
STAR, and wish to be removed as a contact, please inactivate your contact role status in your MESA account. If
you are not a partner organization and wish to opt out of receiving e-mails, pleasecontact EnergyStarProducts@energystar.gov.