Storage Body Endorses Data Centre Code of Conduct

The Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) Europe has announced its endorsement of the European Union (EU) Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency.

The initiative is focused on providing a set of voluntary measures and a list of best practices related to data centre energy efficiency, which is expected to lead to more stringent compliance guidelines in the future. It aims to bring the issue of ‘greening’ data centres to the attention of European businesses to help organisations minimise data centre energy consumption, without hampering the mission-critical function of data centres.

As an official Endorser, SNIA Europe said it would recommend guidelines on implementing the code’s best practices and develop education and information programmes to help data centre administrators meet and maintain the targets outlined in the code. It will also emphasise the importance of the Code’s values to its members through industry events, tutorials and vendor neutral whitepapers.  And, as an industry association, it will participate in the development and support of specific literature, including technical training modules and case studies.

Bob Plumridge, SNIA Europe’s Chairman, was proud of the association’s support for green technologies, which he said demonstrated high levels of commitment to helping organisations reduce the impact that their data centres’ CO2 emissions are having on the environment.

“The EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency is a very useful tool that we can share with our members, their end users and anyone wishing to ‘green up’ their IT infrastructures,” he said. “We are looking forward to participating in the implementation of the guidelines as they are developed, and will use our position as the voice of the [storage] industry to highlight the issue of energy efficiency for the ultimate good of the environment.”

Clive Longbottom, business processes facilitation service director for analyst firm, Quocirca also welcomed the storage association’s endorsement, saying it proved the code was beginning to gain credibility among vendors. “The EU Code of Conduct does seem to be garnering a lot of support – 3Com, Microsoft, the Green Grid, and many others have signed up,” said Longbottom.

But he added that it was SNIA’s ability to put pressure on storage vendors to sign up individually where the real value of the announcement of its endorsement lies: “If the [SNIA member] vendors all fall in line, then a more sustainable approach to the data centre with all aspects being covered becomes far more possible.”