The House has passed HR-1268, to require federal agencies, in consultation with OMB, EPA and Energy, to acquire, use, and maintain information on technologies expected to increase energy efficiency.
Sponsors cite an Energy Department estimate the potential for energy savings at federal data centers alone of 20 to 40 percent—in some cases by up to 90 percent.
The bill also would require an updated report on data center energy efficiency since its release, and would create an open data initiative to make federal data center energy usage information available in a way that encourages innovation while protecting national security.
The CBO has said that the bill’s requirements are largely consistent with existing policy related to energy-efficient technologies.
