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ENERGY STAR computers must meet strict energy-efficiency requirements developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE). Buying an ENERGY STAR computer helps you conserve energy (70 percent over conventional models), thereby reducing your carbon footprint.

Find it! ENERGY STAR computers

Most major computer manufacturers offer ENERGY STAR models (with the blue ENERGY STAR label), which are sold in electronics stores and online. Consult ENERGY STAR's database of qualified computers for an up-to-date list of available models and brands. Just be sure that you set the built-in power management features to their most efficient levels when you pull it out of the box to save as much energy as possible.

Before you buy

• Check the yellow EnergyGuide label or check online for information about how much energy a particular computer is likely to use compared to similar models and how much it will cost to operate per year. These labels can be compared like price tags to find the most energy efficient models.
• Remember that even if an energy-efficient computer costs more than a standard model, you're likely to save significantly on energy bills over its lifetime.
• Updated guidelines for ENERGY STAR computers went into effect on July 20, 2007. The new specifications represent the first revisions in 15 years. The EPA raised the standards because most computers today, regardless of their ENERGY STAR label, are actually compliant with its guidelines due to improvements in technology. The new specifications require PCs to consume even less energy both when they're in use and when they're idle.

Choosing an ENERGY STAR computer helps you go green because...

• They adhere to a higher standard of energy efficiency, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The average American is responsible for almost 22 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, the largest source of which is electricity, representing approximately 30 percent of emissions.[1] Of this electricity, home office equipment and electronics account for about 20 percent and represent the fastest growing electrical load in the United States.[2]

Most computers are left on for 24 hours a day, which typically costs the consumer between $115 - $160 in electricity per year, releasing 1,500 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air.[3][1] Given that a tree absorbs between three to 15 pounds of carbon dioxide annually, it would take 100-500 trees to offset these emissions just for one year.

ENERGY STAR qualified computers promise up to a 70 percent reduction in energy usage. Certification requires that when PCs are inactive they switch to a low power mode that consumes less than 15 watts. This not only conserves electricity but also keeps equipment cool, which in turn reduces the need for air conditioning.

By contrast, a typical computer consumes 120 watts regardless of whether it's active or inactive.[1] If a home office was outfitted entirely with ENERGY STAR equipment (computer, monitor, printer, and fax machine), it would save enough energy over the equipment's lifetime to power all the lights in a home for more than four years.[4]

External links

• Federal Trade Commission: How to Buy an Energy Efficient Appliance