Information technology - Data centres key performance indicators - Part 8: Carbon usage effectiveness (CUE)

Overview

ISO/IEC 30134-8:2022 is the eighth part of the data centre key performance indicator (KPI) series and defines carbon usage effectiveness (CUE). The indicator quantifies the CO2 emissions of a data centre during the use phase of its life cycle. Its purpose is to report the carbon intensity of operation in a simple and comparable way. The standard was prepared by ISO/IEC JTC 1; Edition 1 was published on 24 March 2022, runs to 17 pages and is sold for a fee.

The standard introduces measurement categories for CUE and covers the measurement, calculation, reporting and interpretation of the indicator. The interpretation part addresses the links between the indicator and the infrastructure and IT. This structure follows the same logic as other indicators in the series such as PUE: a defined measurement point, a defined calculation and an explicit statement of which category was used in the report.

The record rests only on the publisher's public catalogue abstract and product metadata; the full text of the standard was not read. Details of the formulas, the exact boundaries of the category definitions and worked examples are therefore not included here. Readers should consult the standard itself before implementing it. ISO/IEC 30134-1, ISO/IEC 30134-3 and EN 50600-4-8 are named as related standards.

The scope limit also matters: CUE reflects emissions in the use phase, that is, during operation. It does not cover the embodied carbon arising from manufacturing equipment or constructing the building. It should therefore not be treated as sufficient on its own for sustainability reporting, and is best read together with energy efficiency indicators and life-cycle analyses. The meaning of the number also depends on the source and date of the emission factor used.

Key points

1. CUE quantifies the CO2 emissions of a data centre during the use phase of its life cycle.
2. CUE is a simple method to report the CO2 intensity of data centre operation.
3. The standard introduces CUE measurement categories.
4. It defines measurement, calculation and reporting, and interpretation includes links to infrastructure and IT.
5. Edition 1 was published on 24 March 2022 and has 17 pages.
6. Related standards are ISO/IEC 30134-1, ISO/IEC 30134-3 and EN 50600-4-8.
7. The standard is paid; this record rests only on the public catalogue abstract.
8. The indicator is limited to operational (use-phase) emissions and excludes embodied carbon.

Using it in design

• In the sustainability module, compute CUE as annual CO2 from energy used (grid emission factor x grid kWh + on-site fuel emissions) divided by IT kWh.
• Keep a dated, region-specific emission-factor catalogue (for example the Turkish grid factor) and show the source used in the report.
• Limit the calculation to operational emissions; do not present embodied carbon within CUE.
• Report CUE alongside PUE and state which measurement category was used.

Who should read it

Data centre operators, designers and energy consultants doing sustainability reporting.

Related standards

• ISO/IEC 30134-1
• ISO/IEC 30134-3
• EN 50600-4-8

Publication details

Authors

ISO/IEC JTC 1

Publisher

ISO/IEC

Year

2022

Document number

ISO/IEC 30134-8:2022

Document language

English

Source type

Standard

Access

Citation only

Licence

Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document

Citation