Programme Overview

The Institute has played a major role in the development of the EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres since its inception, via the Best Practice Working Group that is chaired by the Secretary of the BCS Data Centre Specialist Group. In its role as an endorser of the Code, BCS has created an assessment based award scheme not only to complement the code itself, but also to broaden access to energy efficiency best practices.

The Code's Best Practices were developed with input and support from most of the world's equipment vendors and influential organisations in the data centre sector. Since the Code's publication and launch in November 2008, the Best Practices have received international acceptance and wide adoption. The perception of the Code has been enhanced through the custodianship of an independent body - the EU JRC - with the clear objective of disseminating and encouraging the uptake of "best practice" in data centre energy efficiency.

Organisations within the EU can apply for Participant and/or Endorser status in the Code of Conduct for individual data centres. This process is voluntary and self-assessed with a minimal level of data reporting to the EU JRC each year.

CEEDA uses the Best Practices as the foundation of assessment but Assessors will require evidence that that these have been implemented in each Data Centre and will therefore review activities onsite at a detailed level.

CEEDA is an international programme and Awards can be achieved by organisations with Data Centre facilities anywhere in the world.

The CEEDA award (CEEDA Bronze, Silver or Gold) provides recognition to organisations that are able to demonstrate significant progress in maximising the energy efficiency of their facilities from CEEDA Bronze all the way to those who meet the requirements for the CEEDA Gold award and may therefore be considered best in class.

Importantly, CEEDA provides externally verifiable evidence that an organisation is implementing operational, design and evolving measures that maximise energy efficiency within a common framework, thereby enabling the validation and comparison of performance of different data centres across a range of industries and sites. As the assessment is conducted onsite by an independent CEEDA certified Assessor, the process ensures that each of the criteria measured is based on the actual status of the facility at the time of inspection.

Organisations attaining an award will therefore be able to substantiate their performance claims against an internationally recognised benchmark.

The Assessors

The Institute has developed an Assessor certification programme and now has a pool of independent, fully trained and qualified Assessors. The activity of these Assessors is managed by our Accredited Programme Provider (APP)

Assessors are individuals with a strong background in Data Centre build, design, operation and ICT. BCS requires CEEDA Assessors to be a Chartered IT Professional (CITP) or hold a professional equivalent status. Assessors are also required to have attended the CEEDA specific training course and hold a certificate in the ISEB Intermediate Certificate in the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centres

Assessors then operate under a very strict professional, ethical and legal framework managed by our APP to comply with data protection and ensure confidence in handling all sensitive and confidential information as well as accessing secure data centre sites. All Assessors have to attend a mandatory training and awareness session on data centre site health and safety. Assessors are always required to be fully escorted at all times by an approved site/client representative while on site.

The Assessment and Award Process

After completing your application to the programme, The APP will assign an Assessor to visit your data centre in order to assess the site against the CEEDA award assessment criteria. The Assessor will then produce a comprehensive report of the findings along with a detailed action plan for further energy efficiency measures and will make an award recommendation to the Institute if appropriate.

The Institute will review the Assessor's recommendation through its Accredited Auditors and, if the auditors are satisfied with the evidence provided in the report supplied by the Assessor, they will then recommend the data centre a Silver or Bronze level award. Should an Assessor recommend a Gold award, an Accredited Auditor is required to visit the site to verify the evidence before a Gold award can be made. Recommendations for award levels follow a standard assessment format used by all Assessors to ensure the assessment is consistent and objective.

The assessment standard is based on Assessors observing evidence of an organisation having actually implemented each best practice element. Commitments to implement practices in the future are not themselves adequate within the assessment process. The Assessor must see sufficient evidence to verify that best practice has been implemented. (Note: This is different from the EU Code of Conduct Participant application process where an organisation can commit to implement a best practice for a particular facility up to 36 months into the future.)

Where a CEEDA award is made, the appropriate Gold, Silver or Bronze Award with the month and year of attainment can then be displayed in your premises and the award logo used within your corporate marketing material. Your organisation will also be eligible to be listed in the on-line Register of Energy Efficient Data Centres. Finally, organisations will also receive the Assessor report, which includes a specific and detailed action plan for improvement that will identify opportunities for improvement or the steps required to progress to the next award level.

Organisations may apply to be re-assessed on an annual basis to ensure their facility still meets the Award level requirements. If successful, you will be provided with an Award which is valid from the month and year of attainment.

Bronze

Silver

Gold