Computers Specification - Version 4.0
The ENERGY STAR specification for computers was revised on October 20, 2006 to Version 4.0. This specification revision includes new performance requirements to qualify for the ENERGY STAR rating for desktop and notebook computers, workstations, integrated computers, desktop-derived servers, and game consoles. Tier 1 of this specification went into effect on July 20, 2007.
Documents, data, and correspondence related to the Version 4.0 revision is archived below. For more information on the revised specifications, please contact Katharine Kaplan, EPA, at Kaplan.Katharine@epamail.epa.gov. Consumers may visit the ENERGY STAR products pages for information on qualified computers and other office equipment.
Final Computer Specification, Version 4.0
- Final Computer Specification, Version 4.0 (PDF, 256 KB)
- Final Computer Specification, Version 4.0 Cover Memo (PDF, 41 KB)
- Final Draft Comment Responses (Excel, 27 KB)
- Final Dataset for Desktops and Notebooks 10/20/06 (Excel, 232 KB)
Stakeholder Comments on Final Draft Computer Specification, Version 4.0
- Computer Spec Final Draft Comments - ATI (PDF, 28 KB)
- Computer Spec Final Draft Comments - CEE (PDF, 33 KB)
- Computer Spec Final Draft Comments - JEITA (PDF, 43 KB)
- Computer Spec Final Draft Comments - METI (PDF, 53 KB)
- Computer Spec Final Draft Comments - NVIDIA (PDF, 65 KB)
Final Draft Computer Specification, Version 4.0
- Computer Final Draft Specification, Version 4.0 (PDF, 222 KB)
- Final Draft Computer Specification, Version 4.0 Cover Memo (PDF, 39 KB)
- Additional Draft 3 and Levels Update Comment Responses (Revised) (Excel, 29 KB)
- Final Dataset for Desktops and Notebooks (Excel, 234 KB)
- Table of Low Power Mode and WOL Requirements (PDF, 83 KB)
Computer Specification Update — Proposed Levels for all Products
- Specification Update Document - Proposed Levels 8/26/06 (PDF, 194 KB)
- Dataset for Desktops and Notebooks (Excel, 236 KB)
- Dataset and Analysis for Workstations (Excel, 464 KB)
Stakeholder Comments on Proposed Levels
- Computer Spec Comments on Proposed Levels — EFI (PDF, 48 KB)
- Computer Spec Comments on Proposed Levels — HP (PDF, 25 KB)
- Computer Spec Comments on Proposed Levels — ITI (PDF, 52 KB)
- Computer Spec Comments on Proposed Levels — JEITA (PDF, 66 KB)
- Computer Spec Comments on Proposed Levels — METI (PDF, 57 KB)
- Computer Spec Comments on Proposed Levels — NRDC (PDF, 39 KB)
- Computer Spec Comments on Proposed Levels — Workstation Group (PDF, 90 KB)
Draft 3 Computer Specification, Version 4.0
- Draft 3 Computer Specification, Version 4.0 Cover Memo (PDF, 53 KB)
- Computer Draft 3 Specification, Version 4.0 (PDF, 242 KB)
- Computer Draft 2 Comment Response Document (Excel, 25 KB)
- Final Data Collection Sheet for Desktops, Notebooks and DD Servers (Excel, 30 KB)
Stakeholder Comments on Draft 3 Computer Specification, Version 4.0
- Computer Spec Draft 3 Comments - ATI (PDF, 27 KB)
- Computer Spec Draft 3 Comments - Fujitsu (PDF, 162 KB)
- Computer Spec Draft 3 Comments - HP (PDF, 272 KB)
- Computer Spec Draft 3 Comments - Intel (PDF, 198 KB)
- Computer Spec Draft 3 Comments - ITI (PDF, 30 KB)
- Computer Spec Draft 3 Comments - JEITA (PDF, 55 KB)
- Computer Spec Draft 3 Comments - METI (PDF, 119 KB)
Workstation Update Documents
- Workstation Approach Update Email 07-25-06 (PDF, 73 KB)
- WS Scaling Masked Data 7-25-06 (Excel, 333 KB)
- Workstation Data Collection Update Email 06-29-06 (PDF, 72 KB)
- Workstation Scaling Data Sheet 6/29/06 (Excel, 25 KB)
- Workstation Definition and Data Collection Email 06-26-06 (PDF, 86 KB)
- Workstation Scalable Classifier and Next Steps Email 06-23-06 (PDF, 57 KB)
Specification Update Documents
- Specification Update Cover Email (PDF, 29 KB)
- Specification Update Document 6/12/06 (PDF, 44 KB)
- Workstation Scaling Data Sheet 6/12/06 (Excel, 28 KB)
Computer Stakeholder Meeting, May 18, 2006, Washington, D.C.
EPA hosted a stakeholder working session in Washington, DC to collect feedback on the Draft 2 specification and facilitate discussions to make further progress towards a final specification.
- Meeting Agenda (PDF, 20 KB)
- Discussion Guide (PDF, 76 KB)
- Meeting Attendees (PDF, 37 KB)
- European Commission Notes (PDF, 86 KB)
- Meeting Notes (PDF, 82 KB)
- Draft Data Collection Sheet (Excel, 26 KB)
Draft 2 Computer Specification, Version 4.0
- Draft 2 Computer Specification, Version 4.0 Cover Memo (PDF, 44 KB)
- Computer Draft 2 Specification, Version 4.0 (PDF, 245 KB)
- Draft 2 Idle Level Rationale (PDF, 64 KB)
- Idle Data for Desktops and Notebooks (Excel, 49 KB)
- Low Power Mode Data (Excel, 87 KB)
- Notes on Draft 2 Data Released (PDF, 19 KB)
Stakeholder Comments on Draft 2 Computer Specification, Version 4.0
- ATI Computer Comments (PDF, 504 KB)
- EC Computer Comments (PDF, 22 KB)
- IBM Computers Comments (PDF, 19 KB)
- Intel Computers Comments (PDF, 1.6MB)
- iSuppli Computer Comments (PDF, 21 KB)
- ITI Computer Comments (PDF, 450 KB)
- ITI Proposed Data Collection Sheet (Excel, 22 KB)
- JEITA Computer Comments (PDF, 43 KB)
- Toshiba Computer Comments (PDF, 29 KB)
Computer Stakeholder Meeting, February 15, 2006, Washington, D.C.
EPA hosted a stakeholder meeting in Washington, DC to collect feedback on the draft 1 specification and facilitate discussions to make progress towards a final specification. EPA, NRDC and industry members gave presentations on the proposed requirements as well as potential solutions.
- Meeting Announcement (PDF, 16 KB)
- Meeting Agenda (PDF, 32 KB)
- Meeting Participants (PDF, 28 KB)
- EPA Presentation (PDF, 316 KB)
- NRDC Environmental Benefits Slides (PDF, 37 KB)
- Industry Presentation — Low Power Modes & WOL (PDF, 242 KB)
- Industry Presentation — Workstations (PDF, 1.33MB)
- Industry Presentation — Power Supply Efficiency (PDF, 50 KB)
- Industry Presentation — Idle and Power Management (PDF, 30 KB)
Draft 1 Computer Specification, Version 4.0
- Cover Memo (PDF, 45 KB)
- Computer Draft 1 Specification, Version 4.0 (PDF, 269 KB)
- Computer Idle Data Collection (Excel, 110 KB)
- Computer Specification Timeline (PDF, 17 KB)
Stakeholder Comments on Draft 1 Computer Specification, Version 4.0
- Anonymous (PDF, 24 KB)
- AMD (PDF, 76 KB)
- Dell (PDF, 43 KB)
- EU (PDF, 51 KB)
- Fujitsu-Siemens (PDF, 119 KB)
- Intel (PDF, 50 KB)
- Jeita (PDF, 73 KB)
- NRDC (PDF, 47 KB)
Internal Power Supply Energy Efficiency Test Procedure Technical Workshop
Workshop to collect feedback on the final draft of the test procedure under consideration for use with the ENERGY STAR computer specification. EPA presented on power supply policy activities around the globe. For more information on this workshop and test procedure, please visit EfficientPowerSupplies.org.
- International Policy Round Up (PDF, 2.37MB)
- Internal Power Supply Energy Efficiency Test Procedure v 5.0 (PDF, 633 KB)
Computer Specification Framework Documents
To assist with ongoing stakeholder discussions regarding the variety of product categories potentially covered by the computer specification, EPA has developed individual product category framework documents.
- Cover Memo (PDF, 61 KB)
- Desktop Framework Document (PDF, 135 KB)
- Notebook Framework Document (PDF, 123 KB)
- Desktop-Derived Server Framework Document (PDF, 69 KB)
- Workstation Framework Document (PDF, 131 KB)
Stakeholder Comments on Computer Framework Documents
- Consumers Union Computer Framework Documents Comments (PDF, 26 KB)
- European Union Computer Framework Documents Comments (PDF, 66 KB)
- JEITA computer Framework Documents Comments (PDF, 48 KB)
Draft Idle Mode Test Method
The following Draft Idle Mode Test Method was developed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). EPA is considering using this test procedure to measure idle power consumption for the revised computer specification and is looking for stakeholder feedback.
- Cover Email (PDF, 21 KB)
- NRDC Draft Idle Mode Test Procedure (PDF, 84 KB)
Preliminary Draft Computer Specification, Version 4.0
- Computer Preliminary Draft Specification, Version 4.0, Introductory Message, February 18, 2005 (PDF, 64 KB)
- Computer Preliminary Draft Specification, Version 4.0 (PDF, 27 KB)
Stakeholder Comments on Preliminary Draft Computer Specification, Version 4.0
Computer manufacturers and other interested parties have been encouraged to submit written comments on the preliminary draft specification. To date, EPA has been given permission to post the following comments. Please note that these do not comprise all of the comments received by EPA; only those EPA has received permission to post.
- AGO Computer Comments (PDF, 77 KB)
- Consumers Union Computer Comments (PDF, 23 KB)
- HP Computer Comments (PDF, 30 KB)
- ITI Computer Comments (PDF, 131 KB)
- JEITA Computer Comments (PDF, 296 KB)
- NRDC Computer Comments (PDF, 39 KB)
- PSMA Computer Comments (PDF, 50 KB)
- Snohomish PUD Computer Comments (PDF, 38 KB)
- TCO Computer Comments (PDF, 19 KB)
ITI Computer Stakeholder Meeting, Austin, TX, June 20–21, 2005
- Meeting Agenda (PDF, 43 KB)
- ENERGY STAR Update (PDF, 454 KB)
- Industry Perspective on ENERGY STAR (PDF, 307 KB)
- Computer Power Management — Observations from the Field (PDF, 1 MB)
- Making Power Management Successful (PDF, 61 KB)
- Emerging IT - Opportunities and Risks (PDF, 21 KB)
- Recommendations for Tier I ENERGY STAR Computer Specification (PDF, 123 KB)
- ECESTB Meeting Summary and MTB Observations (PDF, 66 KB)
- Enabling Low Power Modes (PDF, 82 KB)
- Idle Mode Power Requirements (PDF, 95 KB)
- Reducing Desktop PC Power Consumption — Idle and Sleep Modes (PDF, 152 KB)
- Right-Sizing and Designing Efficient Power Supplies (PDF, 411 KB)
- Results of Field and Lab Testing of PCs (PDF, 813 KB)
- Power Supplies — Industry Perspective (PDF, 652 KB)
- Industry Proposal (PDF, 52 KB)
Computer Industry Meeting, March 15, 2005, Washington, D.C.
- March Meeting Announcement (PDF, 25 KB)
- March 15 Meeting Agenda (PDF, 61 KB)
- Attendee List (PDF, 80 KB)
- Meeting Notes (PDF, 85 KB)
- Assumptions for Energy Savings Estimates (PDF, 282 KB)
- ENERGY STAR Update (PDF, 2.6 MB)
- Proposed ENERGY STAR Tier I Requirements (PDF, 499 KB)
- European Experts Working Group Views on Computer Revisions (PDF, 133 KB)
- Fixing the Networking Issue (PDF, 106 KB)
- System Energy Efficiency: Prescriptive vs. Performance Benchmark Approaches (PDF, 2.8 MB)
- Additional Slides from NRDC (PDF, 63 KB)
- AMD Receives Special Recognition Certificate from EPA (photo)
Intel Technology Symposium, September 7–9, 2004, San Francisco, CA
EPA presented its preliminary strategy for revising the existing ENERGY STAR Computer specification during the 2004 Intel Technology Symposium. Click on the links below to view EPA’s presentation and a summary of the slide discussions:
- Options for Revising ENERGY STAR Computer Specification — September 8, 2004 (PowerPoint, 92 KB)
- Detailed Summary of EPA's Slides (PDF, 71 KB)