Blue Angel Certification for Data Centers
Energy Efficiency Act & Blue Angel – Get Expert Advice from DCI!
The newly introduced Energy Efficiency Act in Germany places new legal requirements on data center operators and decision-makers. Moving forward, data centers must be designed and operated in alignment with climate protection goals and the sustainable use of resources.
Key Legal Requirements for Data Centers:
📌 New data centers must be climate-neutral by 2027.
📌 Public data centers must implement an environmental management system (EMAS) by 2025.
📌 IT procurements for federal institutions require certifications like the "Blue Angel" standard.
What Does an Energy & Environmental Management System Require?
✔ Energy & heat consumption monitoring – Organizations with an annual energy use of 15 GWh or more must track energy consumption and waste heat recovery.
✔ Continuous power & energy demand measurement – Mandatory real-time tracking of power usage.
✔ Waste heat recovery & reuse – Companies must document and implement heat reuse measures.
How to Achieve Climate-Neutral Data Center Operations?
📌 Data centers commissioned before July 1, 2026 must achieve:
✔ PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) of ≤ 1.5 by 2027
✔ PUE of ≤ 1.3 by 2030
📌 Data centers commissioned on or after July 1, 2026 must meet a PUE of ≤ 1.3 from the start.
📌 At least 10% of the energy used in data centers built after July 1, 2026, must come from renewable sources.
📌 New cooling standards – By January 1, 2024, existing data centers must maintain an inlet temperature of 24°C, increasing to 27°C by January 1, 2028.
Blue Angel – The Gold Standard for Sustainable Data Centers
To prove compliance with the Energy Efficiency Act, certifications like Blue Angel will serve as a recognized seal of excellence in sustainable energy management.
For over 45 years, Blue Angel has been the official environmental label of the German government, guaranteeing that products and services minimize environmental impact while maintaining high usability and quality standards.
Previously, data centers could apply for two environmental labels:
✔ Blue Angel for Data Centers (DE UZ 161) – Focused on energy-efficient hardware, cooling optimization, and monitoring systems.
✔ Blue Angel for Colocation Data Centers (DE UZ 214) – Ensured resource-efficient building technology and long-term energy management strategies.
These certifications have now been merged, with new criteria valid until December 31, 2025.
📌 Find the latest Blue Angel certification criteria here:
Key Requirements for Blue Angel Certification
✔ Implementation of an energy management system – Continuous tracking & documentation of energy and heat consumption.
✔ Waste heat recovery – Strategies for reusing and managing waste heat.
✔ Eco-friendly cooling – Compliance with regulated air-cooling temperature limits.
✔ Transparent energy management – Public annual reporting on key metrics like PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness).
✔ Reuse management – Focus on IT hardware recycling and waste reduction.
Financial Support for Blue Angel Certification
Operators of data centers are eligible for financial support to help meet Energy Efficiency Act requirements. The consultation process for Blue Angel certification is subsidized up to €10,000, provided the consultant is a qualified, officially listed data center expert.
DCI – Your Qualified & Listed Blue Angel Consultant
🔹 Ensure your data center meets sustainability standards and earns the Blue Angel certification with DCI!
🔹 As an officially listed Blue Angel consultant, we stay up to date with all regulations and will guide you through the entire certification process.
📞 Schedule a free consultation today!
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