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Energy consumption during use phase is a very
important aspect of computers’ and monitors’ overall environmental
performance. For this reason, American National Standard IEEE 1680, which
forms the basis of EPEAT, includes a criterion (4.5.1.1) that requires
that every EPEAT registered product meet the current version of the
applicable ENERGY STAR standard. Therefore, all EPEAT registered products
are also ENERGY STAR qualified.
On
July 20, 2007, a year after EPEAT’s launch, ENERGY STAR released a new
standard for computers -- ENERGY STAR 4.0, a much tougher and more complex
standard than the previous ENERGY STAR 3.0. To allow transition to the new
standard, IEEE 1680 allowed those products registered in EPEAT before July
20, 2007 using the ES 3.0 standard to remain on the EPEAT registry for 6
months as manufacturers adjusted their design to comply with ES 4.0.
On January
21, 2008 all computers that did not meet ENERGY STAR 4.0 were removed from
the EPEAT registry. All computers in the EPEAT registry after January 22,
2008 meet the ENERGY STAR 4.0 requirement.
Note:
Computer manufacturers may build many configurations of a given product,
some of which meet ENERGY STAR 4.0 requirements while others do not. EPEAT requires manufacturers to
report specific configurations of registered product that do not meet IEEE
1680 requirements in an “exceptions” field. Because computer products are
so highly configurable, and configuration can have a significant impact on
energy use, many ENERGY STAR 4.0 qualified computers on the EPEAT registry
have a declared exception related to ENERGY STAR.
We encourage purchasers to carefully review the
declared exceptions for products they are considering, to ensure that
their desired configuration meets ENERGY STAR 4.0. Where individual users
have the ability to order products under an overall contract agreement,
organizations should train individuals to request ENERGY STAR 4.0
compliant products when they order, even where the overall contract
already specifies EPEAT (and/or ENERGY STAR).
Additional resources:
ENERGY
STAR 4.0 Information
EPEAT
ENERGY STAR 4.0 Media Release
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