Smaller footprint.

Amid increasing attention on the energy efficiency of corporate data centers, a Citi facility has earned the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s ENERGY STAR label in recognition of superior energy performance. The Midwest Data Center, located outside of Columbus, Ohio, earned a score of 84 on the ENERGY STAR 100-point scale, indicating that the data center is performing better than 84 percent of similar facilities nationwide. The facility was the fourth data center to receive certification and, at 304,275 square feet, it is the largest certified facility to date.

The EPA launched an ENERGY STAR rating system for data centers in June as a challenge to companies and institutions to measure, document and implement efficiencies in their operations. It follows examination of the increasing demand for computing power and the cost of generating it.

To achieve this recognition, Citi focused on reducing all areas of energy consumption, and in particular the data center's cooling systems. Improvements include taking advantage of Ohio's climate to "free cool" for 35 percent of the year, segregating high- and low-energy equipment, creating an energy management system that allows for adjustments on a 24/7 basis and establishing that the data center could operate at a higher temperature overall. The work was covered in detail in Wall Street & Technology's recent feature story, "The Data Center of the Future."

"Citi has committed to reduce the resources consumed in the course of doing business, particularly those that directly impact climate change," said John Killey, Global Head of Sustainability for Citi Realty Services. "The use of ENERGY STAR is integral to energy management at Citi, being a simple but effective global benchmarking tool that enables us to focus on areas of opportunity."

The Midwest Data Center is Citi's first data center to earn the ENERGY STAR, and one of 54 ENERGY STAR labeled Citi facilities. In 2008, Citi developed an extensive global program to benchmark energy performance across 85 million square feet spanning 12,000 locations and 100 countries, utilizing ENERGY STAR's Portfolio Manager for commercial buildings. To date, Citi has reduced energy consumption by 20 percent across its 100 largest facilities, which account for nearly one third of the space in its real estate portfolio.

"EPA congratulates Citi on the achievement of its first labeled data center," stated Alyssa Quarforth, National Program Manager for commercial real estate at EPA's ENERGY STAR program. "This accomplishment demonstrates the key role that operational improvements can play in data center energy management. Furthermore, by integrating Portfolio Manager into its organization-wide energy management efforts, spanning office buildings, bank branches, and now data centers, Citi is demonstrating the power of benchmarking as the foundation for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions."

Citi's ENERGY STAR partnership and energy efficiency programs are part of the company's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 10 percent by 2011 and 25 percent by 2015, compared to a 2005 base year. Citi further announced in 2007 its intent to direct $50 billion over a 10 year period to address climate change, with $10 billion of this initiative to target its own facilities and operations. To date, Citi's business and operational units have mobilized over $24.3 billion as part of this initiative.