Overview
ISO/IEC 30134-3:2016/Amd 1:2018 is an amendment to the international standard for key performance indicators (KPIs) in data centres, specifically addressing the Renewable Energy Factor (REF). Developed by ISO and IEC, this amendment clarifies and enhances how data centres measure, document, and report renewable energy use as part of their overall energy consumption. The amendment supports global efforts to improve energy efficiency and increase sustainability in data centre operations by providing updated methodologies for calculating REF, including mixed-use facilities and various energy sources.
Key Topics
- Data Centre Energy Consumption: Defines the system boundaries for measuring the total energy consumed by a data centre, including all relevant energy sources (electricity, gaseous fuels, fluid fuels, and certain cooling fluids).
- Energy Metering Requirements: Specifies which forms of energy must be metered at the data centre interfaces and provides guidance on measurement units and conversion factors.
- Mixed-Use Building Considerations: Offers direction for determining the data centre’s energy consumption when located within buildings shared with other functions, including the importance of metering for accurate separation.
- Annualized REF Calculation: Stipulates that the Renewable Energy Factor must be assessed over a twelve-month coincident period and outlines documentation requirements for energy data.
- Integration of Renewable Energy Certificates: Includes visuals and descriptions addressing how renewable energy certificates are managed for locally generated energy, ensuring transparent accounting.
- Reference to International Formats: Integrates references to standards such as ISO 8601 for consistent reporting of dates and times.
Applications
Implementing ISO/IEC 30134-3:2016/Amd 1:2018 has practical benefits for organizations focused on data centre sustainability and performance:
- Sustainability Reporting: Facilities can demonstrate their use and integration of renewable energy, supporting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting and compliance.
- Operational Efficiency: Data centre operators can identify opportunities for energy savings and optimize infrastructure by accurately measuring all relevant energy inputs.
- Benchmarking and Certification: Standardized REF methodologies enable consistent benchmarking across sites and facilitate achieving green certifications or other sustainability goals.
- Utility Partnerships: Guidance on managing renewable energy certificates and metering supports partnerships with utilities and compliance with regional or international energy policies.
- Facility Management in Mixed-Use Buildings: Helps accurately attribute energy use to data centre operations even in complex property arrangements, improving cost tracking and sustainability baselines.
Related Standards
Organizations aiming for best practices in data centre energy management and sustainability may also consider these related ISO and IEC standards:
- ISO/IEC 30134 Series: Other parts of this series cover additional KPIs for data centre resource and energy efficiency.
- ISO 50001: Energy management systems standard, supporting continuous improvement in organizational energy performance.
- ISO 14001: Environmental management systems, relevant for organizations focusing on overall sustainability.
- ISO 8601: Standard for the representation of dates and times, referenced for monitoring and reporting energy data.
- Regional green building certifications (such as LEED, BREEAM) may also refer to ISO/IEC data centre energy standards.
Implementing ISO/IEC 30134-3:2016/Amd 1:2018 empowers data centre operators to advance sustainability objectives through robust, internationally aligned energy performance measurement.
Open preview (PDF)Information technology — Data centres — Key performance indicators — Part 3: Renewable energy factor (REF) — Amendment 1
