The disclosed embodiments relate to a system that characterizes I/O performance of a computing device in terms of energy consumption across a range of vibrational operating environments. During operation, the system executes a test script on a computing device that is affixed to a programmable vibration table, wherein the test script causes the computing device to perform a predetermined I/O workload. While the test script is executing, the system controls the programmable vibration table to subject the computing device to different vibrational operating environments. At the same time, the system obtains test results by monitoring a progress of the test script and an associated power consumption of the computing device. Finally, the system uses the obtained test results to characterize the I/O performance of the computing device in terms of energy consumption across the range of vibrational operating environments.