Energy Star
Relevance & Background
The Energy Star is a voluntary appliance specific label for appliances that meet certain standards regarding energy efficiency. It was originally set up by the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in co-operation with EREN DOE (Department of Energy, US government) in 1992. Thanks to a US Government Decree to specify the energy label for procurement by public authorities the Energy Star achieved the status of a market standard, contributing to a spread in use in other countries like Japan, Australia and Korea. In 2001, the European Union signed an Agreement with US EPA to introduce the Energy Star in Europe as well (only for office equipment), thereby recognising each other as Partner in the Energy Star programme. This allows potential partners in the European Union to sign up through the European Commission, who is responsible for the EU Energy Star Programme.
Target
In principle, the Energy Star label should provide guidance for selecting energy efficient office equipment. However, a majority of the equipment on the market meets its present energy efficiency standards.
Product/service group
The Energy Star in the USA covers a wide range of products, ranging from new homes, most of the buildings sector, residential heating and cooling equipment, major appliances, office equipment, lighting to consumer electronics. The Energy Star in the EU is so far only applied to office equipment (monitors, computers and operating systems, fax machines, scanners, copiers and printers).
Awarding Institution & criteria
ENERGY STAR is a US-registered service mark owned by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA partnered with the US Department of Energy in 1996 to promote the ENERGY STAR label, with each agency taking responsibility for particular product categories.
Within the EU, the participation in the Energy Star programme is voluntary; applications to become a programme participant may be submitted to the European Commission. The European Commission, in co-operation with the Member States, has established a European Union Energy Star Board (EUESB) for the implementation and promotion of the programme.
For each labelled product, certain energy efficiency criteria are defined (Annex of the Agreement), e.g. for computers, they automatically enter a low-power "sleep" mode after a period of inactivity, have energy-efficiency specifications based on power supply and include mechanisms through which the low-power modes of qualified monitors can be activated.
The criteria have been recently adapted to the technological development - respectively are still in the adaptation process:
→ For monitors took effect in January 2005
→ For imaging equipment will take effect in April 2007
→ For Computers will take effect at July 2007
Control mechanisms
The products identified by the Energy Star logo are tested at the participants' installations or by an independent testing laboratory. The EUESB may also test or examine products in order to verify whether they comply with the specifications set out in the Agreement.
A Working Plan incorporating an implementation strategy for the subsequent three years is foreseen. The Plan will be reviewed each year. One year after entry into force of the Regulation, the Member States had to inform the Commission of the measures they have taken to comply with it.
Charges
There are no charges for participating in the Energy Star programme.
Relevance on the market
With the new criteria the Energy Star presents dedicated requirements to distinguish the best 25 % of the appliances per product group - The previous criteria have been much less dedicated and covered a range of about 80% of the market. The new requirements include total energy consumption beneath idle, stand-by and sleep mode. Due to the relevance of the Energy Star on the world wide market it scan be assumed, that enough appliances will fulfil the requirements. Thus, the Energy Star criteria are strongly recommended as minimum requirements for every procurement decisions – as it is obligatory for public procurement of the US federal ministries.
