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External Power Adapters for Consumers
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Did You Know?
In the U.S., the total amount of electricity that flows through internal and external power adapters is nearly 470 billion kWh per year or about 12 percent of the nation's annual electricity consumption. During the process these devices consume about 120 billion kWh per year of electricity and turn it into heat, costing the nation over $12 billion in electric bills.
About ENERGY STAR External Power Adapters
What is an adapter and why are they important?
External power adapters, also known as power supplies, are crucial to the operation of virtually all small electronic devices. As many as 1.5 billion are in use in the U.S. - that's about five for every person. The total electricity flowing through all types of power supplies is about:
- 300 billion kWh/year, and
- 11% of the national electric bill
They convert high voltage ac electricity from the wall outlet to the low voltage dc power used to power electronic products, like MP3 players, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), camcorders, digital cameras, laptops, and cordless and mobile phones.
An adapter that has earned the ENERGY STAR meets strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE).
- On average, 30% more efficient than conventional models.
- Are often lighter and smaller in size, which makes it easier for consumers to transport products like laptops.
Consumers are now able to purchase a growing variety of products that are packaged with ENERGY STAR qualified power adapters. Products with qualified adapters are identified with a special version of the ENERGY STAR label.
| Current Specification Effective Date: |
November 2008 |
|---|
External power adapters originally qualified for the ENERGY STAR label in January, 2005. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 established the first ENERGY STAR specification for external power adapters as the federal standard, effective July 1, 2008. In April 2008, EPA finalized Tier 2 for external power supplies with more stringent no-load and active levels, which became effective November 1, 2008.
These FAQs represent the top ten related to External Power Adapters and the ENERGY STAR program.
External Power Adapters Resources
