Computers for Consumers

Earning the Government's ENERGY STAR

Desktop, integrated desktop, and notebook (laptop) computers, workstations, small-scale servers, and thin clients are all eligible to earn the ENERGY STAR. Those that come with the label are more efficient than ever. When purchasing a new computer, be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR before making your final decision. You should be able to find the label on the products and packaging as well as in product literature and on websites to make it easy for you to choose.

EPA has strengthened the requirements for earning the ENERGY STAR in Version 5.0. For Desktop/integrated desktop and notebook computers, products must meet stringent TEC requirements for estimated annual energy consumption. Small-scale servers and thin clients must meet energy use guidelines in off and idle modes of operation, and thin clients supporting sleep functions must meet requirements in this mode as well. These requirements ensure energy savings when computers are being used and performing a range of tasks, as well as when they are turned off or into a low power mode. ENERGY STAR qualified computers must also have efficient internal or external power supplies.

Since computers are often in use more hours per day than they used to be, power management is important to saving energy. ENERGY STAR power management features place computers (CPU, hard drive, etc.) into a low-power "sleep mode" after a designated period of inactivity. Simply hitting a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse awakens the computer in a matter of seconds.
Federal IT managers and procurement staff should visit Product Purchasing and Computer Power Management for Federal Agencies to learn about saving energy by purchasing ENERGY STAR and EPEAT-registered office equipment and complying with Executive Order 13423.

If every home office product purchased in the United States this year had earned the ENERGY STAR, we would:

• Save more than $75 million in annual energy costs
• Prevent 1 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, equivalent to emissions from 90,000 cars
• Save 700 million kWh of electricity

Computers originally qualified for the ENERGY STAR label in June, 1992.

A computer meeting the new ENERGY STAR specification will use between 30 percent and 65 percent less energy depending on how it is used.

Computers Key Product Criteria: ENERGY STAR

Learn How a Product Earns the Label

These are the top FAQs related to Computers and the ENERGY STAR program.