To study and promote the use of energy efficient computer servers in the United States.
Latest Action
Became Public Law No: 109-431.
Official Summary
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on July 12, 2006. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through the Energy Star program, to analyze and report to Congress on the growth and energy consumption of computer data centers by the federal government and private enterprise. Requires such study to include: (1) growth trends associated with data centers and the utilization of servers in the federal government and private sector; (2) analysis of the industry migration to the use of energy efficient microchips and servers designed to provide energy efficient computing and reduce the costs associated with large and medium scale data centers; (3) analysis of the potential cost savings available through the adoption of energy efficient data centers and servers; (4) analysis of the potential impacts of energy efficiency on product performance; (5) analysis of the potential cost savings and benefits to the energy supply chain through the use of stationary fuel cells for backup power and distributed generation; (6) an overview of current government incentives offered for energy efficient products and services; (7) recommendations for incentives and voluntary programs to encourage the use of energy efficient data centers and computing; and (8) an opportunity for stakeholders to comment and provide information on the study. Expresses the sense of Congress that it is in the United States' best interest for purchasers of computer servers to give high priority to energy efficiency as a factor in determining best value and performance for purchases of servers.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™This law directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), via the Energy Star program, to conduct a comprehensive study on the growth and energy consumption of computer data centers in both the federal government and private sectors. The study includes analyzing trends in data center growth, the adoption of energy-efficient servers and microchips, potential cost savings from energy efficiency, impacts on product performance, benefits of stationary fuel cells for backup power, current government incentives, and recommendations for further incentives and voluntary programs. It also provides an opportunity for stakeholder input. Additionally, the law expresses a congressional preference for prioritizing energy efficiency in purchasing decisions for computer servers.
The law mandates a detailed EPA study on energy efficiency in computer servers and data centers, aiming to inform Congress and encourage energy-saving practices in government and private sectors.
- Requires EPA to analyze and report on data center growth and energy use in federal and private sectors.
- Study to cover energy-efficient technology adoption, cost savings, product performance, and backup power options.
- Includes review of existing government incentives and recommendations for new incentives and voluntary programs.
- Encourages prioritization of energy efficiency in server procurement decisions.
['Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)', 'Federal government data centers and IT departments', 'Private sector data center operators and server purchasers', 'Energy Star program', 'Manufacturers of energy-efficient computer servers and microchips', 'Energy supply chain stakeholders']
['Implementation complexity in gathering comprehensive data from diverse federal and private entities.', 'Potential costs associated with conducting the study and implementing recommended incentives.', 'Limited enforcement authority as the bill primarily mandates study and recommendations rather than regulatory requirements.', 'Oversight challenges in ensuring stakeholder input is adequately incorporated.']
The bill was passed by the House on July 12, 2006, and became Public Law No: 109-431 on December 20, 2006. It reflects congressional interest at that time in promoting energy efficiency within the growing sector of computer data centers, leveraging the EPA's Energy Star program as a vehicle for analysis and guidance. The law does not impose mandates but focuses on study and voluntary measures.
Hidden impact flags detected: 2
GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
['Potential increased adoption of energy-efficient servers and microchips could reduce overall energy consumption in data centers, lowering operational costs and environmental impact.', 'Encouragement of stationary fuel cells for backup power might stimulate related energy supply chain sectors.', 'Government and private sector alignment on energy efficiency priorities could influence market demand and technology development.']
The law mandates a study and report by the EPA but does not include the full bill text in the source data, limiting detailed analysis of specific provisions. Oversight should focus on the transparency and comprehensiveness of the EPA's data collection and stakeholder engagement processes, as well as the follow-through on recommended incentives and voluntary programs. Monitoring the balance between voluntary measures and actual energy savings will be important for assessing policy effectiveness.
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