November 17, 2006—The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on October 23 new Energy Star specifications for computers and related equipment that are expected to save US businesses and households more than $1.8 billion in energy costs over the next five years, and to prevent greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual emissions of 2.7 million cars.
Under the new specifications, which will go into effect on July 20, 2007, only the most energy-efficient computer related equipment will earn the Energy Star label, representing the top of their class, says the EPA. The new requirements include improved efficiency across all modes of a computer’s operation, and require use of highly efficient internal and external power supplies.
On average, the EPA estimates that Energy Star-qualifying computer equipment will be 65 percent more efficient than conventional models.
If every computer purchased by businesses meets the new Energy Star requirements in effect next year, businesses will save $1.2 billion over the lifetime of their new computers, equal to lighting 730 million square feet of US commercial building space each year, estimates the EPA.
Government agencies buying Energy Star will also garner big savings, says the EPA. If the government sector buys only computers that meet the new Energy Star requirements, this sector will save nearly 1.4 billion kWh and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two billion pounds each year.
According to the EPA, computers were the first product to qualify for EPA’s Energy Star in 1992. EPA and computer makers have worked together on improving computer energy efficiency ever since. The US now has more 180 million computers in use, says the EPA, and they consume nearly 58 billion kWh per year, or about two percent of annual US electricity consumption.
