Podcast Script — Computers

October 25, 2007

Narrator: Welcome to the ENERGY STAR Training Center's Computer Podcast. Here, you'll learn what the ENERGY STAR label means, what qualifies a computer for the ENERGY STAR, and how to share the benefits of ENERGY STAR with your customers.

First, let me explain what ENERGY STAR is.

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program that helps customers identify products and practices that save energy, save money, and help protect the environment.

The ENERGY STAR appears on a wide variety of products, including appliances, lighting, electronics, and home office equipment.

Products that earn the ENERGY STAR run more efficiently, so they use less electricity. Using less electricity means lower utility bills, which saves you money.

But using less electricity can also help the environment. In order to generate electricity, fossil fuels like coal are burned. This process releases greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming. When we use less electricity, we burn less coal, release fewer emissions, and help prevent global warming.

So ENERGY STAR products help customers save money and help protect the environment.

Now that you know what ENERGY STAR is, let's talk about how it affects you and your customers.

In 2007, ENERGY STAR updated the specification that determines whether a computer earns the ENERGY STAR label. Now in order to qualify, computers must demonstrate low power use in three operational modes-idle, sleep, and standby. They must also have efficient internal and external power supplies, such as ENERGY STAR certified power adapters for laptops.

A computer meeting the new ENERGY STAR specification will use between 20 and 50 percent less energy than a regular computer depending on how it's used.

And here's something else you might not know.

Many products use energy when they are plugged in, even when they're turned off. So instead of plugging electronics and chargers directly into wall outlets, tell your customers to plug them into power strips — and to turn off the power strips when the products are not in use.

But let's get back to ENERGY STAR computers. Some customers might have misconceptions about energy-saving features. So we've created four scenarios that demonstrate potential objections your customers might raise, and some suggestions for responding to those:

Customer: I don't want one of those energy-saving computers. They run way too slow, and I hate when they go to sleep when I'm trying to download something.

Salesperson: The new ENERGY STAR certified computers perform just as well as any other computer, but they use much less electricity. And when your monitor's power management is enabled, Internet downloads continue even when the screen goes blank.

Narrator: Scenario 2.

Customer: These energy-saving models crash all the time! I always turn off the power management settings so I don't lose my work.

Salesperson: This used to be the case, but computer technology has improved a lot. Using the recommended power-saving features won't affect performance. The computer will still operate normally, and you won't risk losing your work — it will just use less electricity.

Narrator: Scenario 3.

Customer: Oh, I don't need to know about any of that power mode stuff. I heard it's better to just leave computers on all the time because turning them on and off uses more electricity and wears them out.

Salesperson: Today's computers are actually designed to withstand frequent shut-downs. The small power surge used to turn on your computer consumes much less energy than leaving your computer on all day and night. If you buy one of our ENERGY STAR certified models, and use its power-saving features, you may even lower your energy bill.

Narrator: Scenario 4.

Customer: OK, these two models seem really similar. Why should I choose the one with the ENERGY STAR? Is there really a difference?

Salesperson: There's a big difference. The ENERGY STAR label means this computer uses less energy than the other one. So you'll use less electricity, you'll lower your energy bills, and you'll actually help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. So this computer not only costs a lot less to operate, but it's also better for the environment.

Narrator: Now let's wrap up.

ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program that helps consumers identify products and practices that save energy, save money, and help protect the environment.

By choosing ENERGY STAR certified products, consumers can save on their utility bills while helping reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.

Visit the ENERGY STAR Training Center at energystar.gov-slash-training to learn more about selling ENERGY STAR certified products. You can also listen to a podcast on ENERGY STAR certified imaging products such as printers, scanners, and faxes.

Thanks for listening!