No. 26/09
June 18, 2009 

EU AND US REINFORCE ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR OFFICE EQUIPMENT

The European Commission and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have agreed on new ambitious specifications for computers, copiers and printers under the EU-US Energy Star Program. The new criteria are effective from July 1, and are expected to trigger major energy savings.

"The new criteria are an important contribution to reach the EU's energy efficiency targets," said Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs. "ENERGY STAR is a very successful example of energy efficiency cooperation with the US, delivering concrete energy and CO2 savings worldwide, while saving citizens' and enterprises' money."

ENERGY STAR is part of the EU's strategy to manage energy demand better, contribute to security of energy supply and mitigate climate change. The new technical specifications for computers and imaging equipment such as printers, copiers and fax machines were developed together with Member States of the European Union, the US Environmental Protection Agency and stakeholders from around the world. 

The new criteria are expected to save 22 TWh [The Kilowatt Hour] electricity during the next four to six years in the EU, which is comparable to the annual electricity consumption of Ireland. Criteria for new office equipment categories, including servers and data storage equipment, will be added soon to the EU-US ENERGY STAR program.

The EPA estimates that imaging products carrying the Energy Star label will be 14 percent more efficient than current ENERGY STAR models but will still deliver the features and functionality that consumers have come to expect. If all imaging products sold in the United States met the new specification, consumers would save nearly $500 million a year in energy costs and there would be significantly less greenhouse gas emissions.  

A computer meeting the new ENERGY STAR specification will use between 30 and 60 percent less energy depending on how it is used. If all computers sold in the United States meet the ENERGY STAR requirements, the EPA estimates that savings in energy costs could exceed $2 billion each year and greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by the equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions from nearly 3 million vehicles.

For further information on the ENERGY STAR program, please visit: http://www.eu-energystar.org/

Further Contact Information:
Press and Public Diplomacy
Delegation of the European Commission
2300 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
http://www.eurunion.org/PressRoom
Tel: 202-862-9552
Fax: 202-429-1766