The SNIA Emerald Power Efficiency Measurement Specification was developed collaboratively with more than 25 member companies and provides a power efficiency test measurement set of methods.

The SNIA Emerald Program also provides an industry-wide repository of measured test data and its website will supply resources to learn about, evaluate, test and submit storage systems power usage.

SNIA GIA members HP and IBM have submitted test results for their storage systems.

"We are providing end-users and the industry at-large with a means to test, measure and evaluate storage systems power usage and efficiency, at a time when datacentre energy usage is projected to increase 19 per cent in 2012 according to Data Center Dynamics 2011 Census Report(1)," SNIA Green Storage Initiative chair, Leah Schoeb, said.

The specification can be downloaded from the Emerald website, which also provides a user guide on how to set up a test and measurement environment. Once test results are submitted, the industry can review products that underwent testing.