The UK Government operates some of the worlds largest computing systems in the course of delivery of public services and for its own operational use. Through this IT infrastructure it is also a high consumer of electricty power and subsequent high emitter of CO₂ equivalent emmissions.

As demand to deliver services through ICT methods continues, power requirements are also increasing. The UK Government has taken a lead role internationally in addressing its carbon emissions, but irrespective of this role, it has a duty to it's electorate to maximise the use of public funds and so it has the same fiscal pressures for energy costs as any private organisation.

To this end, through the Cabinet Office, the UK Government has created an encompassing strategy, ICT Greening Strategy. In 2009 this strategy comprised of eighty-eight (88) different tasks or calls to action for CIO's and Data Centre managers in the public domain.

To ensure that energy efficiency is addressed at the data centre level, one of these 88 components is the European Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency. The European Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficency is about reducing energy demand, securing future supply, lowering data centre energy costs.

At the end of 2009, ICT Greening Strategy has undergone review with one of its aims to provide greater clarity. This has meant that the 88 components of the Green IT Strategy has been consolidated to eighteen (18), clearer and more definitive key objectives.

Due to it's importance, the European Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency has been retained.

These changes are not yet available for public review, but will be available in late 2009, when we shall update this website to reflect the UK Government's latest ICT Greening Strategy.

Assessor is an online software tool that provides consulting expertise to enable an organisation run their own benchmarks, monitor the energy consumption and work with key data centre metrics, which are the key requirements of the European Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency and now necessary to meet the UK Governments minimum standard.