The Bay Area Green Business Program was developed by local governments, in collaboration with the US EPA, Cal EPA department of toxic substances control and the business community, and "verifies that businesses meet higher standards of environmental performance." It reviews company programs that support energy conservation, "green" purchasing policies, recycling, pollution control and transportation alternatives, and it awards certification after an external audit by local government officials, says Equinix.

Further emphasizing its commitment towards supporting green initiatives in the data center business, Equinix reports it has also become a member of The Green Grid (thegreengrid.org), a global consortium dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centers and business computing ecosystems.

Energy efficiency is an issue that comes up frequently in the data center business, and several organizations are working to develop energy efficiency metrics and practices for the data center industry. Arguably, the most prominent among those is the Green Grid.

"Since the construction of the first Equinix IBX data center in the Silicon Valley nearly ten years ago, we have been keenly aware of the efficiencies that can be achieved through innovative design, equipment and programs," says Margie Backaus, chief business officer of Equinix. "We are pleased to be the first data center operator in Silicon Valley to be recognized by the Bay Area Green Business Program, and we look forward to participating in The Green Grid."

Equinix says it is "committed to operating the most efficient data centers in the industry," and over the years, has adopted a variety of programs to reduce its environmental impact. Currently, Equinix says it keeps its facilities cool by harnessing external air temperature through heat exchangers and air economizers. The company also has some of its data centers running on renewable green energy sources, like hydropower, and Equinix is also "aggressively implementing new designs and technologies that take maximum advantage of conservation."

In February, Equinix announced it had expanded its global footprint by acquiring Netherlands-based data center operator Virtu Secure Webservices, which will provide Equinix with facilities in the cities of Enschede and Zwolle by mid-2008.