All computer, monitor, printer and controlling device products that qualify are identified by the EPA Energy Star logo. The Energy Star logo made its debut on products in June 1993, and there are now over 2,000 compliant products available. According to participating manufacturers, most companies expect to convert a majority of their product lines to qualify for the Energy Star logo within just a couple of years at no extra cost to consumers and with no performance sacrifice.
In April 1993, President Clinton announced that the federal government, the largest buyer of computers in the world, is committed to purchasing only Energy Star compliant products. Clinton's executive order directs U.S. government agencies to acquire only desktop computers, monitors and printers that meet EPA Energy Star requirements, provided that they are commercially available and meet the agencies' performance needs. The order took effect in October 1993. The State of California and other local cities and counties have also followed suit.
By the year 2000, Energy Star Computers and other campaigns to promote energy efficient computer equipment will lead to savings of 22 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. These savings will reduce emissions of the primary greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, by 20 million tons, the equivalent of 5 million automobiles. Reduced too will be emissions of 140,000 tons of sulfur dioxide and 75,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, the two pollutants most responsible for acid rain.
EPA now has a list of Energy Star compliant computer equipment on their world wide web site.
Energy Star Programs
U.S. EPA (6202J)
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: 202-775-6650
Fax: 202-775-6680
24-hour fax-back: 202-233-9659