GTA Certified Programs

Overview

 

Without standards, even simple basic standards, buyers can not make effective purchase decisions when evaluating "green" solutions and products.  In turn, sellers and producers can not effectively differentiate and even determine which "green" products the market needs.  Green Technologies as a category can be misleading through buyer confusion and savvy marketers, aka message with no substance.

 

What are "Green" products?

 

Green Products are basically products that:

  1. Enable the efficient use of resources

  2. Made in a sustainable fashion

 

What is GTA Certified?

 

GTA Certified is a product certification program providing a baseline standard enabling hardware, software and other products to be measured against their "green" competitors. 

Three example criteria that are applied to products under consideration for certification include:

  1. Is the product (software or hardware) more energy efficient that a previous version?

  2. Does the product enable or simplify an organizations ability to conserve resources?

  3. Is this product specifically designed to be in some way "green"?

 

Why do we need Green Product Certification?

 

  1. No other standards body has a green certification specifically designed for IT solutions.

  2. IT drives the demand and consumption of a large percentage of all countries net energy production.

  3. Buyers demand the ability to make assured decisions without resorting to extensive research.

  4. Sellers and Producers need to know what and how to develop the products and services the market needs in the "Green" space.

 

What Kind of Products can get GTA Certified?

 

Initially IT based products that promote efficiency such as:

 

  •     Massive Array Idle Disc (MAID) storage systems

  •     Retrofitted server virtualization 

  •     Uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs)

  •     Chillers/cooling towers

  •     Thermal energy storage systems

  •     Others as submitted.

 

 

If our Product has already been approved for an efficiency rebate program is there a streamlined approval process?

 

Yes, if your product is already listed as an approved data efficiency product or service, then the GTA will verify your products existing status as such and streamline the evaluation process.

 

What is the application process to become GTA Certified?

 

The GTA is not accepting applications for GTA Certified at this time. 

 

However, the application process will be comprised of the following steps:

  1. Fill out GTA Certified Product Application

  2. Provide all product specification and product literature especially related to efficiency

  3. Provide Data Metrics for before and after energy consumption to output for the product

  4. The GTA will send you our initial findings of whether your product qualifies for Certification

  5. Receive your GTA Certification

 

How long does it take to get GTA Certified?

 

Timeframes vary as applications are processed as received, but typical time frames for certification are 2-3 weeks from submission of all relevant data and information related to the product being certified.

 

Are their Different Levels of Certification?

 

Yes, all related to the level of efficiency delivered and savings gained over a previous or existing methodology.

 

Phase one rollout of GTA Certified will only include one level, GTA Certified.  Additional levels will be rolled out based on industry standard criteria for each type of product.

 

Is there a logo we can use?

 

Yes upon certification your organization will be entitled to us the GTA Certified Logo on all product specific materials, packaging and associated white papers and marketing pieces.

 

Is there a fee associated with Certification?

 

Yes, fees will be based on a structure determined by the complexity of the product and the number of products the organization submits.  However, there will be programs for small businesses and a limited number of fee waivers available.

 

How do we submit our product to be certified?

 

The GTA Certified Program will start accepting applications for our beta program in early Q1 of 2009.  Applications will be available on the website and reviewed in the order received.
 

GTA Offers Organizations The Opportunity To Learn

How To Become More Green In Their Operations

Our GCO Certification Is Based On Standards and Tools for Assessing and Implementing A Green Organization.

What does GOM(TM) stand for?

Green Organization Management(TM) is the process by which an organization can implement better business practices that lead to operational efficiencies, cost reductions and other benefits by better conserving resources.

What is a Green Certified Organization(TM)?

A Green Certified Organization (GCO) is an organization that has made demonstrated changes both simple and complex to be more efficient in daily operations. 

How can the GTA help my organization become a GCO?

For most organizations the GTA will start by providing an organizational assessment and recommendations for improvements.  That assessment and recommendations will come with a tiered certification structure and recommended timelines for which on-site inspections and specific documentation will be required to receive GCO certification.  

The GTA will also offer a modified form of "self-certification" through easily scalable and implementable standards that can effect simple but significant changes in efficiency across an organization. 

The kind of changes GCO will recommend for baseline certification are those that can be implemented by any size organization by:

  •     Purchasing sustainably developed products.

  •     Reducing their waste.

  •     Implementing recycling programs. 

  •     Purchasing products made from recycled materials.

  •     Implementing technology solutions that reduce waste, conserve resources, etc.

  •     and much much more.... 

For the more complex processes including purchasing and outsourcing, the GTA can provide assistance to aid organizations in making a better buying decision and streamline the process through our GTA certification programs.

GTA will work with a variety of partners to help promote, create, develop, implement and certify organizations under our GCO programs.

In addition the GTA through its website, knowledge base, publications, events and partnerships will provide assistance to organizations in selecting, deploying and integrating green technologies into organizational operational infrastructures.

A stage one GCO checklist and assessment tool will be provided to allow organizations to more effectively evaluate the current level of operational efficiencies relative to green.

GTA Offers Organizations IT Standards and Tools

for Assessing and Implementing Green Technologies

What does GITMO(TM) stand for?

Green IT Managed Organization(TM)

What is a Green IT Managed Organization?

A Green IT Managed Organization (GITMO) is one that has made the changes both simple and complex to be more efficient in daily operations. 

How can the GTA help my organization become a GITMO?

For most organizations the GTA will start by providing easily scalable and implementable standards that can effect simple but significant changes in efficiency on an organizational level.  These changes can be implemented by the average IT department which is characterized as having:

  •     Limited resources

  •     More projects on deck than can be completed

For the more complex processes including purchasing and outsourcing, the GTA can provide assistance to aid IT departments in making a better buying decision and streamline the process through our GTA certification programs.

GTA will work with IT consulting and systems integration leaders in the Green IT space to develop cradle to grave processes and methodologies for assessing, selecting, deploying and integrating green technologies into organizational IT infrastructures.

A stage one GITMO checklist and assessment tool will be provide to allow IT departments to more effectively evaluate the current state of green in their organizations IT infrastructure.