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Table 1: Energy Star PC, Monitor, Printer, Copier, and Fax Machine Characteristics

Office equipment became an important source of load growth for electric utilities in the 1980s, as personal computers and associated peripherals became widespread. For both utilities and governments concerned with long-term energy planning, reliable estimates of future changes in energy used by office equipment are essential.

Several programs and policies designed to reduce energy use by office equipment have recently been adopted in the U.S. and Europe. Probably the most significant activity in the U.S. is the U.S. EPA's Energy Star office equipment program. This program, announced during the summer of 1993, has ushered a new generation of power-managed office technologies into the marketplace. Over 2000 models of computers, monitors, and printers are now listed as Energy Star qualified products. The EPA recently expanded the program to include copiers and fax machines.

To qualify as an Energy Star PC or monitor, the equipment must be able to reduce power consumption to 30 W or less during idle periods. Printer, copier, fax, and combination printer/fax machine power requirements are a function of output speed.

Not all Energy Star units are equal in their energy efficiency. Efforts to assess, specify, and procure more efficient equipment are hampered by the lack of standard methods for measuring and reporting the energy use of each device. Currently the EPA allows manufacturers to conduct their own measurements, so the data in the EPA Energy Star product list has not been verified by independent tests. To address this void, the Energy Policy Act of 1992 calls for a voluntary national testing and information program for office equipment. The Department of Energy has worked with representatives from the Council on Office Product Energy Efficiency (COPEE) to develop such standards. However, industry commitment to this process is uncertain.

A major reason for the rapid adoption of Energy Star equipment in the marketplace was the signing of executive order (E.O. 12845) by President Clinton. Under this order, the world's largest purchaser of office equipment, the U.S. government, is required to purchase Energy Star PCs, monitors, and printers. This market-pull strategy has had a significant effect on the market penetration of Energy Star equipment.  Last Updated On: 8/19/04