United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Radiation
6202J
EPA 430-K-94-006
January 1995
Purchasing An
Energy Star" Computer
EPA POLLUTION PREVENTER
The EPA Energy Star
Computers program
is a partnership
effort with the
computer industry
to promote the
introduction of
energy-efficient
personal computers,
monitors, and
printers. Reducing
energy consumption
can help to combat
smog, acid rain, and
global warming by
reducing emissions
from electricity
generation. By using
more energy-
efficient equipment
in our homes,
offices, and
factories, we can
both improve the
environment and
save money.
What is Energy Star
Equipment?
actively in use—and 30 to 40 percent
are left running at night and on week-
ends. By the year 2000, Energy Star
equipment could save enough electric-
ity to power Vermont, New Hampshire,
and Maine for a year, cut electricity bills
by $2 billion, and reduce CO, pollution
equal to the emissions from 5 million
automobiles.
Real Savings
"Energy Stars" are energy-efficient
computers, monitors, and printers
that save energy by powering down
and going to "sleep" when not being
used. An Energy Star computer has all
the performance features of a regular
computer—it simply has the addi-
tional ability to "power-down." These
energy-efficient machines save money Energy Star computers are available at
on electricity bills and reduce pollu- no additional cost, and a single Energy
tion, .mproving your bottom line and Star computer and monitor can save
earth s environment. anywhere from $7 to $52 per year in
EPA has signed partnership agree- electricity bills. If you notice computers
ments with industry-leading manufac- a«d Printers left on when leaving the
turers who sell more than 75 percent Ce at n'?ht and on weekends, your
of all desktop computers and 90 savm§s wi" be toward the hi§her end of
percent of all laser printers sold in the
United States. These companies have If you add an Energy Star printer to your
introduced more than 2,000 desktop system, you can increase your savings
computers, monitors, and printers by an additional $35 per year.
i
that have earned the right to bear the
EPA Energy StarSM logo, shown at the
top of the page.
Computer equipment is the fastest
growing electric load in the business
lit i
For an office environment where one-
third of the computers are left on all the
time, purchasing 100 Energy Star PCs
and monitors instead of non-efficient
equipment could save you $2,400 per
fL\ \_IVV II It C*ICV*U IV. IWdVJ III II l\^ \J\JJ\\\\~JJ WVi*_«ilJI I IV-I II *_-V^I-il\^ Jl-lV*^ V W*_« 1p*mf \\J\J IJV-I
world, and energy use by computers year. In addition, Energy Stars generate
f~-f^.i 11 *-J *-l *-»! tit I j-i L-t\ / l<^ciCK»£i"i-f''in*"4
could double by
the year 2000.
Ironically, much
of this energy is
wasted: re-
search shows
that most of the
time personal
computers are
on they are not
100 New Computers and Monitors
Non-Energy Star Energy Star
$0/year savings
$2,400/year savings
less heat, and
upgrading your
existing equip-
ment to Energy
Star as it natu-
rally turns over
can lead to
cooling reduc-
tions of up to
25 percent.
Recycled/Recyclable
Primed on paper thai contains
at least 50% recycled fiber
-------
PURCHASING AN ENERGY STAR COMPUTER
How to Find
Energy Star Products
Consumers can easily recognize the new, more effi-
cient systems because they will be identified by the
EPA Energy StarSM logo. Since there are now more than
2,000 products available from all major manufactur-
ers, EPA is encouraging companies and organizations
to specify Energy Star compliance in all future pur-
chases of computer equipment.
• If you are a business, ask your MIS or procurement
official about purchasing Energy Star equipment,
and look for the Energy StarSM logo in advertise-
ments and on specification sheets.
• If you work in the Federal Government, the Gen-
eral Services Administration has issued guidelines
on the acquisition of Energy Star computers. Call
(202) 519-4860 for a copy.
• If you need a computer for home, look for the
Energy StarSM logo on display models in local retail
stores—if you do not see it, ask for it.
To help, EPA offers a database of available products
which is updated monthly. Just call or write EPA to
receive a copy.
User Advantages
Besides the cost savings, Energy Star equipment offers
users several key advantages.
• Energy Star PCs can be quieter since some have
no fans.
• Sleeping Energy Star monitors emit fewer electro-
magnetic fields (EMF) since they are not display-
ing any visual image when "asleep."
• Energy Star monitors can also increase file secu-
rity since the "sleeping" screen is dark.
• All Energy Star equipment produces less heat, and
thus contributes to a cooler and more comfort-
able workspace.
• Energy Star PCs tend to be a less intrusive desk-
top item since they are usually smaller than tradi-
tional PCs.
Increased Reliability
In addition, Energy Star equipment may actually last
longer than conventional products because it will most
likely spend a large portion of time in a low-power
sleep mode. Non-Energy Star computer equipment
left on at night and over weekends may last only 2 to
3 years, but Energy Star computers "sleeping" during
the day and turned off at night could last almost 10
times as long (see graph).
(2 years)
(Source: Dataquest, 1993)
(22 years)
ffi
By spending time "sleeping," Energy Star equipment can reduce
wear and tear, leading to extended life and increased reliability.
Which Energy Star
Is Right for Me?
Committing to an "Energy Star purchasing strategy" for
your organization is the first crucial step. The second
step is figuring out which Energy Star products to buy.
It is important to realize that not all Energy Star com-
puters are the same, and your choice will depend on
your needs and preferences.
If you operate on a Local Area Network (LAN), make
sure that your Energy Star computer is compatible
with that network system. Most Energy Stars are now
being network tested, but specify your particular
environment—whether its Novell Netware, Banyan
Vines, Windows NT, Lan Manager, or others, to ensure
that it is compatible (see sample procurement lan-
guage on page 4).
-------
PURCHASING AN ENERGY STAR COMPUTER
You also may want to specify certain "user-friendly"
features, such as an Energy Star or power manage-
ment "icon", which is easily accessible and gives the
user a quick and simple way to change the "sleep"
settings. Some users may want to set their computer to
go to sleep after 15 minutes of inactivity, while others
may choose 30 minutes. Having a user friendly power
management feature to
customize an Energy Star
computer to your own
schedule contributes to
productivity and increases
energy savings.
What If No
Energy Star Is
Available?
If you need an expert
computer system or an
extremely high speed
printer, there might not
t be an Energy Star
lodel available. Because
high-end equipment was
designed to give you
maximum performance, it
also tends to use more
power. Until the design-
ers of this higher end
equipment develop
Energy Star models, you
will have to buy non-
President Clinton's
Executive Order
In April 1993, President Clinton signed Executive
Order 12845 requiring all federal agencies to pur-
chase Energy Star computers, monitors, and printers
where commercially available. This order, which
took effect on October 18, 1993, reads in part:
Agencies shall specify that microcom-
puters, including personal computers,
monitors, and printers, acquired by the
agency, shall meet the EPA Energy Star
specifications. This feature shall be
activated when the equipment is
delivered to the customer and shall be
capable of entering and recovering from
the low-power state unless the equip-
ment meets Energy Star efficiency levels
at all times.
Should I Still Turn My
Energy Star Off at Night?
Yes. Power-managed Energy Stars will go to sleep by
themselves, but remember that the sleep mode does
not mean "off." Sleeping Energy Stars use less power
than when fully activated,
but they still draw some
power when in the sleep
mode. To save additional
energy and increase the
lifetime of the equipment,
be sure to turn your
system completely off at
the end of each day. It is a
common myth that turning
computer equipment off
and on is bad for it; in
fact, the exact opposite is
true. Turning off your
computer at night may
actually increase its life
because it will reduce
susceptibility to heat and
mechanical stress, the two
leading causes of personal
computer failure. The
recommended approach:
set your Energy Star to
sleep when you are away
during the day, and turn off
the system when you leave
at night.
Energy Star. The goal of
the Energy Star program is to save energy with no
sacrifice in performance or cost. If you need a high-
end system to do your job, and there is not an Energy
Star available, then buy what you need.
However, if you are considering the purchase of a
computer with certain specifications and have the
choice between an Energy Star and a non-Energy Star
machine, buy the Energy Star. If both machines have
the exact same performance and are similar in cost,
purchasing the Energy Star system will give you the
itional benefits of saving on your electric bill and
ping to prevent pollution.
^Bf
What Can I Do for
My Existing Equipment?
Again, turning off your existing equipment at night is
the easiest and most cost-effective strategy for reduc-
ing the energy consumption of non-Energy Star equip-
ment. However, if you are unable to turn off existing
equipment or wish to make additional savings, con-
sider retrofitting your equipment with an Energy Star-
compliant controlling device. These devices are fairly
easy to install and can completely shut off the power
to your PC, monitor, or printer after a period of
inactivity or at a specified time of the day.
-------
PURCHASING AN ENERGY STAR COMPUTER
Energy Star
Compliant
Shipped
Activated
What to Specify When Ordering
Energy Star Equipment
"Provide computer products that meet the EPA Energy Star requirements for energy
efficiency in the requested configuration." This means that PCs, monitors, and printers
shall be able to enter and recover from a low-power standby mode when not in use. For
PCs and monitors, the low-power mode is defined as 30 watts or less (30 watts for the PC
and 30 watts for the monitor). For printers with speeds of less than 15 pages per minute,
the requirement is 30 watts; and for printers with speeds of 15 or more pages per minute,
the requirement is 45 watts. All high-end color printers must not exceed 45 watts in low-
power mode.
"Ship all products with the Energy Star low-power feature activated or enabled." This
eliminates the need tor users to configure the power management feature after delivery
and helps to ensure that the energy-saving feature is used.
Network "If equipment will be used on a local area network, the PC must be fully compatible
Compatibility with the specified network environment; PCs resting in a low-power state should not
be disconnected from the network." Many manufacturers are now testing their Energy
Star equipment on networks and can report, for example, that they are compatible on
Novell Netware, Banyan Vines, Windows NT, Lan Manager, and other network systems.
Monitor "Ensure monitors are capable of entering a low-power mode when connected to the
Control accompanying PC." Most monitors cannot power down by themselves, and must rely on^
some external input to trigger their low-power state. This is typically accomplished via one
of the following: (1) VESA Display Power Management Signalling (DPMS), a signalling
protocol that allows a PC equipped with DPMS to control a DPMS compatible monitor
(both the computer and monitor must be DPMS compatible), (2) the actual shut off of
power to the monitor via a special plug from the PC (this does not require an Energy Star
monitor), or (3) the use of a proprietary software utility shipped with the monitor. Organi-
zations may wish to specify one approach or the other. DPMS compatible PCs and moni-
tors will provide seamless power management and immediate recovery from the low-
power state, but only when used with each other. PCs that include the power switch
approach can shut off power to any monitor, not just an Energy Star monitor.
Software System must be able to run commercial off-the-shelf software both before and after
Compatibility recovery from a low-power state, including retention of files opened before the power
management feature was activated.
What Products are Available?
More than 2,000 products are now available that meet
the Energy Star guidelines.
To receive an abbreviated list of qualified products, call
the Energy Star fax-back line. Dial 202 233-9659 and
enter #4601 for PCs, #4603 for monitors, and #4602
for printers.
To receive the detailed list of qualified products by mail,
call the Energy Star hotline at 202 775-6650.
To fax yourself general program informa-
tion, call the Energy Star fax-back line at
202 233-9659, or call or write us:
Energy Star Computers
U.S.EPA(6202J)
Washington, DC 20460
202 775-6650
Fax 202 233-9578
EPA POLLUTION PREVENTER
------- |