The US department of energy (DOE) and (environment protection agency) has issued a paper called Energy efficiency in Data Centers, Recommendations for Government-Industry Cooperation.
The paper came out of workshops held earlier in the year at Microsoft's Redmond campus and attended by over 150 industry leaders.
With US data center energy use growing at 12% per year and having doubled since 2000 the government is attempting to coordinate action across the industry.
Among the recommendations were put in place a process to coordinate energy efficiency activities of government and industry groups; possibly form an organization for this purpose; Standardize metrics and definitions - Standardize and harmonize metrics for IT equipment, infrastructure, and facilities; develop definitions for useful work output from IT equipment and data centers as a whole; Improve access to information - Develop and consolidate information about technical and organizational (or "management) best practices for energy efficiency in data centers, information should include analytical tools for technology, as well as financial and risk assessments; information should also include simple checklists, such as basic items to consider for new IT projects; use pilot projects and test centers to develop real data on costs and benefits; Promote training and education - Perform outreach to raise awareness about metrics and best practices, with a special focus on senior executives; Provide incentives for implementing best practices - Promote internal reward systems (e.g., employee recognition programs) as well as external rewards (e.g., financial incentives or recognition programs) for organizations that implement best practices; Better understand decision-making for data centers - Conduct market research to better understand why data center managers are not adopting efficiency, what barriers they face, and what they need to overcome those barriers.
U.S. DOE and U.S. EPA Next Steps: Government activities will be subject to interest from stakeholders and available resources.
1. Develop an online information portal - Create a Web site that provides easy access to energy efficiency resources and information, such as industry best practices, metrics development, industry initiatives, education and training opportunities, technology demonstrations, and incentives.

Release DC Pro Tool Software - This software will help companies define baseline energy use of data centers and identify potential energy savings and to reduce environmental emissions. This tool provides quantification of key metrics including cost, primary energy (Btu), and carbon.
Joint training - Develop training through industry groups such as ASHRAE and others and deliver through multiple sponsors to data center operators. DOE will facilitate the delivery of training workshops with a variety of cost-sharing sponsors similar to the training delivery model used by Save Energy Now. Technical assistance - DOE is developing a program to train and certify Qualified Specialists to assist data center operators in identifying and implementing energy saving projects.

DOE will include industry input in the development and formation of the certification program. Investigate the feasibility of developing a Federal pilot project - Investigate the feasibility of developing a pilot site at a federal agency through collaboration with FEMP. The pilot site conducts energy-efficiency assessments, implements cost-effective improvements, and shares results and lessons. Complete the ENERGY STAR specification for computer servers V1.0. - This is the EPA's first specification for IT equipment typically found in the data center. The full paper is HERE