Industry Certifications

Beyond ISO standards and the Green Software Foundation's work, numerous industry-specific certifications have emerged to validate sustainable IT practices. These certifications provide frameworks for organizations to demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility in their digital operations. This page explores the most significant industry certifications related to green IT and sustainable software development.

ENERGY STAR for Data Centers and Servers

The ENERGY STAR program, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has extended its well-known certification to data centers and servers. This certification has direct implications for software development organizations that operate their own infrastructure or make hosting decisions.

ENERGY STAR for Servers

ENERGY STAR certified servers must meet specific energy efficiency requirements at various load levels, ensuring that they perform efficiently across different operating conditions. For software developers, selecting ENERGY STAR certified hardware can provide a foundation for more energy-efficient applications.

The certification criteria include:

  • Power supply efficiency requirements
  • Idle state power consumption limits
  • Full load power consumption efficiency
  • Power management capabilities
  • Standardized energy performance reporting

According to the EPA, ENERGY STAR certified servers are on average 30% more energy efficient than non-certified models. Organizations like Capital One and Salesforce have reported that standardizing on ENERGY STAR certified servers reduced their data center energy consumption by 15-25% compared to their previous hardware deployments.

ENERGY STAR for Data Centers

The ENERGY STAR certification for data centers focuses on the energy efficiency of the overall facility, with particular emphasis on infrastructure systems like cooling and power distribution. The certification uses the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) metric as a key criterion, requiring certified data centers to maintain a PUE better than industry averages and to implement best practices for energy management.

For software companies that operate their own data centers, this certification provides a framework for ensuring that applications run in energy-efficient environments. Several major cloud providers now operate ENERGY STAR certified data centers, allowing software companies to leverage these efficiencies through cloud hosting.

TCO Certified

TCO Certified is a global sustainability certification for IT products that addresses not only energy efficiency but also broader environmental and social aspects. While primarily focused on hardware, it has implications for software organizations through their procurement choices and hardware management practices.

The certification covers:

  • Energy efficiency during use
  • Hazardous substance reduction
  • Responsible manufacturing
  • Material selection for recyclability
  • Product lifetime extension
  • Social responsibility in the supply chain

For IT departments and software companies, specifying TCO Certified products in procurement policies ensures that the hardware running their software has been verified against comprehensive sustainability criteria. Organizations including Siemens, Ericsson, and the Dutch government have integrated TCO Certification requirements into their procurement processes, reporting benefits in both environmental impact and total cost of ownership.

EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool)

EPEAT is a global ecolabel for the IT sector that rates products on their environmental attributes. The rating system evaluates products against criteria in multiple categories, including material selection, energy efficiency, end-of-life management, and corporate performance.

EPEAT offers three tiers of certification:

  • Bronze: meeting all required criteria
  • Silver: meeting all required criteria plus at least 50% of optional criteria
  • Gold: meeting all required criteria plus at least 75% of optional criteria

For software organizations, EPEAT provides guidance for sustainable hardware selection. The U.S. federal government and many Fortune 500 companies require EPEAT certification for their IT purchases, creating market incentives for manufacturers to improve the environmental performance of their products.

A study by the Green Electronics Council found that purchasing EPEAT certified products reduced energy consumption by 52 billion kWh over conventional products, demonstrating the significant impact of these procurement choices.

LEED for Data Centers

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, includes specific criteria for data centers. This certification addresses the entire facility, from site selection and water efficiency to energy performance and indoor environmental quality.

For organizations building or renovating data centers, LEED certification provides a comprehensive framework for sustainable design and operation. The certification process includes:

  • Prerequisite requirements that must be met by all certified projects
  • Optional credits that determine the certification level (Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum)
  • Performance verification through commissioning and ongoing measurement
  • Documentation review by third-party certifiers

Several major technology companies have achieved LEED certification for their data centers. Google's data center in Changhua County, Taiwan, achieved LEED Gold certification through innovations including nighttime cooling storage and rainwater harvesting. Facebook's data center in Luleå, Sweden, achieved LEED Platinum certification by utilizing natural cooling and renewable energy.

The Open Compute Project (OCP) Certification

The Open Compute Project, initiated by Facebook (now Meta), has developed certification programs for data center hardware that meets their specifications for energy efficiency, serviceability, and scalability. While not exclusively focused on environmental performance, OCP certification includes significant energy efficiency requirements that align with green IT objectives.

OCP certified equipment typically achieves greater energy efficiency through:

  • Simplified designs that eliminate unnecessary components
  • Improved power distribution architectures that reduce conversion losses
  • Optimized cooling approaches that reduce energy overhead
  • Component-level power management capabilities

For software organizations, deploying applications on OCP certified infrastructure can reduce the energy footprint of their software. Companies including Microsoft, Intel, and Rackspace have reported 15-40% energy savings through adoption of OCP certified equipment compared to conventional hardware.

TIER Certification for Data Centers

The Uptime Institute's TIER Certification includes sustainability elements through its TIER-Ready assessment and Operational Sustainability certification. While traditionally focused on reliability and availability, these certifications now incorporate energy efficiency metrics and operational practices that support sustainability goals.

The Operational Sustainability certification evaluates data centers on:

  • Management and operations practices
  • Building characteristics and site location
  • Equipment configuration and efficiency

For software organizations evaluating data center providers, these certifications provide assurance not only of reliability but also of energy-efficient operations. Cloud providers including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud operate TIER Certified facilities, allowing software companies to leverage these certifications through their cloud hosting choices.

EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres

The European Union's Code of Conduct for Data Centres is a voluntary initiative that promotes energy efficiency best practices. Participants commit to implementing these practices and regularly reporting their energy performance.

The Code of Conduct includes:

  • A comprehensive set of best practices for data center design and operation
  • Regular reporting requirements to track energy consumption and efficiency
  • Peer learning and knowledge sharing among participants

While not a certification in the traditional sense, participation in the Code of Conduct demonstrates an organization's commitment to data center energy efficiency. Major participants include Equinix, Digital Realty, and numerous European cloud providers.

For software organizations operating in Europe, selecting hosting providers that participate in the Code of Conduct can support green IT objectives and potentially help meet regulatory requirements related to energy efficiency.

Carbon Trust Standard

The Carbon Trust Standard certifies organizations that have measured, managed, and reduced their carbon emissions. The certification includes an assessment of IT-related emissions and recognizes organizations that implement effective carbon reduction strategies.

To achieve certification, organizations must:

  • Measure their carbon footprint according to recognized methodologies
  • Demonstrate year-on-year reductions in carbon intensity
  • Implement appropriate carbon management practices
  • Submit to third-party verification of their claims

For software organizations, the Carbon Trust Standard provides a framework for reducing the carbon footprint of their operations, including that of their software development and deployment activities. Companies including Sky, Marks & Spencer, and Yorkshire Water have achieved this certification, reporting benefits in terms of both environmental impact and operational efficiency.

Green Web Foundation Verification

The Green Web Foundation offers verification for websites and digital services that are hosted on infrastructure powered by renewable energy. This verification is particularly relevant for web-based software services that want to demonstrate their commitment to clean energy.

The verification process involves:

  • Confirming that hosting providers use 100% renewable energy
  • Verifying renewable energy claims through contracts, certificates, or on-site generation
  • Regular reassessment to ensure continued compliance

Organizations that achieve verification can display the Green Web Foundation badge on their websites and include this credential in their sustainability reporting. Companies including WordPress, Mozilla, and Salesforce have obtained this verification for some of their digital services.

Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Alliance (SDIA) Certification

The SDIA is developing a certification program specifically for digital infrastructure sustainability. Currently in pilot phase, this certification evaluates data centers, cloud services, and IT hardware against environmental criteria including energy efficiency, water usage, and lifecycle impacts.

The certification framework includes:

  • Baseline requirements for all certified infrastructure
  • Performance tiers that recognize varying levels of sustainability achievement
  • Continuous improvement requirements for maintaining certification
  • Third-party verification of environmental claims

Although relatively new, this certification is gaining attention from European data center operators and cloud providers. For software organizations, particularly those operating in Europe, this emerging certification may become an important factor in infrastructure decisions.

Industry-Specific Green IT Certifications

Several industries have developed specialized certifications that address the unique sustainability challenges of their sectors.

Financial Services: Sustainable Digital Finance Certification

The Sustainable Digital Finance Alliance has developed a certification program for financial technology that addresses both the direct environmental impact of digital systems and their role in enabling sustainable finance.

The certification evaluates:

  • Energy efficiency of financial platforms
  • Integration of environmental criteria into automated decision systems
  • Carbon footprint of blockchain-based financial systems
  • Transparency in reporting environmental impacts

Financial institutions including BNP Paribas, ING, and Standard Chartered have pursued this certification for their digital banking platforms, using it to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable technology practices.

Healthcare: Green Healthcare Information Management Certification

The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) offers certification for healthcare IT systems that meet specific environmental criteria. This certification addresses the unique requirements of healthcare information systems, including their 24/7 availability requirements and data retention obligations.

The certification focuses on:

  • Energy-efficient system design within clinical constraints
  • Sustainable data management practices for long-term medical records
  • Hardware lifecycle management that addresses medical privacy requirements
  • Telehealth optimization to reduce transportation impacts

Healthcare providers including Kaiser Permanente, Mayo Clinic, and the UK's National Health Service have implemented certified systems, reporting benefits including reduced energy costs and improved alignment with organizational sustainability goals.

Implementing and Maintaining Certifications

Organizations pursuing green IT certifications typically follow these implementation steps:

  1. Assessment: Evaluating current practices against certification requirements to identify gaps.

  2. Planning: Developing implementation plans that address identified gaps and establish timelines.

  3. System Development: Creating the necessary processes, documentation, and technical solutions to meet certification requirements.

  4. Pre-certification Audit: Conducting internal assessments to verify readiness for certification.

  5. Certification Audit: Engaging with the certification body to conduct formal evaluation.

  6. Ongoing Maintenance: Implementing continuous improvement processes to maintain and renew certification.

Successful certification programs share several common characteristics:

  • Executive sponsorship that ensures adequate resources and organizational commitment
  • Cross-functional teams that bring together IT, sustainability, and business perspectives
  • Integrated approaches that align certification requirements with existing business processes
  • Clear metrics and reporting mechanisms that track progress against certification criteria

Benefits of Industry Certifications

Organizations that have implemented industry certifications for their green IT practices report several benefits:

Market differentiation has emerged as a significant advantage, particularly in sectors where environmental credentials influence purchasing decisions. Companies including Accenture, IBM, and Capgemini have leveraged their green IT certifications in marketing materials and client proposals.

Operational improvements often accompany certification processes, as the structured assessment and implementation activities identify efficiency opportunities. Organizations typically report 10-30% reductions in IT-related energy consumption through these optimization efforts.

Risk reduction is another benefit, as certifications help organizations prepare for emerging environmental regulations and stakeholder expectations. Companies including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have cited regulatory readiness as a motivation for pursuing various green IT certifications.

Finally, stakeholder trust is enhanced through the third-party verification that certifications provide. This independent validation adds credibility to environmental claims and helps organizations avoid accusations of greenwashing.

Choosing the Right Certifications

With numerous certifications available, organizations should consider several factors when determining which to pursue:

Organizational priorities and environmental impacts should guide certification choices. Organizations with significant data center operations might prioritize data center-specific certifications, while those focused on hardware lifecycle might emphasize certifications like TCO or EPEAT.

Geographic considerations are also important, as certain certifications have stronger recognition in specific regions. The EU Code of Conduct carries particular weight in Europe, while ENERGY STAR has greater recognition in North America.

Industry context matters as well, with sector-specific certifications often providing more relevant frameworks for specialized operations. Healthcare organizations, financial institutions, and other specialized sectors should consider certifications tailored to their unique requirements.

Resource availability should also factor into decisions, as certification processes require varying levels of time, expertise, and financial investment. Organizations with limited sustainability resources might start with simpler certifications before progressing to more comprehensive programs.

By thoughtfully selecting certifications aligned with their context and capabilities, organizations can maximize the value of these industry credentials while advancing their green IT objectives.