vvEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Air and Radiation 6202J EPA 430-N-94-010 a September/October 1996 Star By save EnerQ") For more information on the Energy Star® Office Equipment Program please contact: Energy Star® Office Equipment Program U.S. EPA (6202J) Washington, DC 20460. Phone: In the U.S. Call Toll-Free: 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937) Outside of the U.S. Call: 202 775-6650 Fax: 202 233-9575 E-mail: fanara.andrew @epamail. epa.gov Automated Faxback Line: 202 233-9659 Via Internet: http://www.epa.gov/ energystar.html Switch Off New Zealand's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) has recently launched a nationwide campaign to reduce commercial electricity consumption by encouraging PC users to turn off their equipment when it's not in use. The campaign, which is appropriately called "Switch Off," informs consumers that they can help reduce environmental problems and save money by turning off equipment when away from their desks. While the main message is to turn off PCs, the campaign also conveys two other ideas: 1) Buy Energy Star® compliant products and make sure the power management features are enabled; and 2) Switch off other equipment, such as printers and copiers, after consulting with the IT (information technology) manager. The campaign has a number of supporters, including the New Zealand Computer Society, the Minister of Energy, the Minister for Information Technology, and a wide range of users and manufacturers. Many of these manufacturers — such as AST Computer, Toshiba, IBM, Digital, Acer, Apple, and Compaq — are Energy Star® Office Equipment Partners. "Switching off your computer won't hurt a bit. (Or a byte.)" EECA has developed posters and brochures with this catchy statement to dispel the myth that turning a computer on and off will damage the hard drive. Dispelling the common myths (e.g., screen savers save energy, and turning a PC on and off will damage the internal components) is an important part of the Switch Off campaign. Office equipment is one of the fastest growing areas of electricity usage in New Zealand and many other countries. Energy consumption to operate office equipment currently costs New Zealand a total of NZ$ 60 million, and this figure is predicted to rise to NZS 100 million by the year 2000. EECA believes that if everyone in New Zealand switched off non- essential equipment after work, organizations across the country would save around NZS 20 million a year. Reduced energy consumption would also eliminate the need to build additional power generating stations and decrease the amount of C02, the leading greenhouse gas, emitted into the atmosphere. For more information about the "Switch Off' campaign, visit the EECA home page at http://www.energywise. co.nz/office/office.html. The Energy Star name is a registered mark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agenpy. ------- Tip of the Month Send us your "tips" on how to improve the monthly Energy Star Compliant Product Listing. Any ideas to help us make the listing more useful for customers, dealers, and others would be appreciated. For example, we are considering automatically deleting product models after a certain period of time (e.g., six months, one year, etc.) in the database. Please forward any suggestions about the Product Listing or product reporting forms to the Program Manager (fax: 202-233-9575 or e-mail: fanara.andrew® epamaii.epa.gov). In The Spotlight Pitney Bowes and Energy Star®: Video News Release "Offices: Out of the Red — And Into the Green" is the title of an upcoming video news release from Pitney Bowes that promotes Energy Star® compliant fax machines. The video news release is currently in production and is expected to be completed in early November. This is one of many video news releases produced by Pitney Bowes over the years to help educate consumers on a variety of topics. also mention that Pitney Bowes was named the 1996 Energy Star® Fax Machine Partner of the Year. In November, a copy of the video news release will be sent to television stations across the country. You may even see it during the in-flight programming on your favorite airline. The finished video will include "sleeping" office equipment with the Energy Star® label, some facts that demonstrate the environmental and economic impact of wasted energy, and a brief description of the sleep mode. It will NUTEK Seminar In September, two EPA Energy Star® staff members traveled to Stockholm, Sweden to attend the NUTEK International Seminar on Energy- Efficient Office Equipment and Home Electronics. The three-day seminar included discussions about 1) the energy savings potential of office equipment, 2) the evolution of energy efficiency policies and programs, 3) the need for international cooperation, 4) the importance of user/buyer awareness of energy-efficient products (e.g., the Energy Star® label), and 5) the future trends in technology that will affect energy efficiency. Several Energy Star® Partners and Allies, including Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, IBM, and Novell, made presentations during the seminar. Seminar attendees identified some important challenges that lie ahead for Energy Star® compliant computers and monitors (e.g., incompatibility between the computer and monitor, difficulty using the sleep mode with some local area network hardware and software, etc.). EPA stated that it will work with manufacturers to address these challenges so that the power management features in Energy Star® compliant systems always function properly and thus save energy. EPA will be talking with Partners and Allies in the upcoming months about the status of new technical innovations, improved user education, and revised program specifications. StarBytes September/October 1996 — 2 ------- Retailer and Utility Partners Circuit City Montgomery Ward Potomac Electric Power Company Tampa Electric Company Wisconsin Electric Power Company Sacramento Municipal Utility District Pacific Gas & Electric Southern California Edison Company Other regional retailers and utilities Pilot Cities Los Angeles, CA San Francisco, CA Sacramento, CA Milwaukee, Wl Tampa, FL Washington, DC Spreading the Word Energy Star® Retailer Program The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and EPA are collaborating on the Energy Star® Retailer Program. Several retailers and utilities are participating in the pilot phase of the program, which began in October 1996 and includes six U.S. cities. (The Partners and pilot cities are listed on the left.) The information gathered during the five-month pilot program will be used to help design a national program. Retailer and Utility Partners are providing consumers with information about the benefits of using energy- efficient products, including Energy Star® compliant refrigerators, dishwashers, room air conditioners, 1997 Forum and Awards Ceremony Join us in Washington, DC for the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Division's (APPD) Annual Forum and Awards Ceremony. The two-day event will be held on Monday and Tbesday, March 24-25, 1997 at the Georgetown University Conference Center. Award applications and Forum invitations will be mailed soon to all Partners and Allies. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Awards for technical innovation, outstanding outreach efforts, best promotion, and other accomplishments will be presented on the evening of March 24. To be recognized as an environmental leader, you must submit an application by December 31, 1996. and office equipment. Three key elements of the program are conducting training sessions for sales associates, distributing/displaying promotional materials with the Energy Star'& label, and providing financial incentives for purchasing Energy Star® compliant products. Wisconsin Electric Power Company, for example, is offering its customers $25 for each Energy Star® labeled computer, monitor, printer, fax machine, or copier that is purchased before December 15, 1996. The theme of the 1997 Forum is "Saving The Earth. Saving Your Money. Smart Business Opportunities." Morning and afternoon breakout sessions are scheduled for Tbesday, March 25. In addition, we are in the process of making arrangements for a PC/Monitor roundtable discussion on Monday afternoon, March 24. More information will be provided when available. We hope to see you there. Mark your calendar today! StarBytes September/October 1996 — 3 ------- Program News Energy Star® Name and Logo As of October 1996, the Energy Star® name is a registered mark of the EPA. The complete Energy Star® Name and Logo Guidelines are being revised and will be sent to each Partner soon. Here is a quick checklist: ~ Display Energy Star in capital letters or small capital letters ~ Insert ® after Energy Star (i.e., Energy Star®) each time it appears in a document, advertisment, etc. ~ Include the registered mark statement if you wish ("The Energy Star name is a registered mark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.") %/ Use the international version of the Energy Star® logo ~ Include the disclaimer statement ("As an Energy Star® Partner, your company name has determined that this product meets the Energy Star® guidelines for energy efficiency.") New Internet Address The Energy Star® Office Equipment Program now has an abbreviated Internet address: http://www.epa.gov/energy star.html. Although the old address (http://www.epa.gov/ docs/GCDOAR/EnergyStar. html) still works, the new one is shorter, easier to remember, and leads the user directly to the Energy Star® Programs and Products page. From this point, those interested in office equipment can click on the icon labeled "Office Products." c/EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency (6202J) Washington, DC 20460 Official Business Penalty for Private Use $300 FIRST CUSS MAIL Postage and Fees Paid EPA G-35 ------- |