Energy Star
Energy Star (proper spelling: ( inter alia ) ENERGY STAR ) is a US-based eco-label for energy-saving appliances, building materials, public / commercial buildings and residential buildings.
The Energy Star logo, such as electric appliances, that they meet the energy saving criteria of the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency ) and the U.S. Department of Energy. An important criterion is that a live device switches down automatically after some time. For computers processor power must be shut down and the hard drive are switched off. This standby mode has a very low power consumption. In the specifications of 5.0 is determined that the screen saver after 15 minutes of inactivity, and the rest in storage (S3 ) after 30 minutes of inactivity must be switched on at the latest.
In particular, in the IT sector there are many devices ( eg PCs, computer monitors, printers, facsimiles, copiers, scanners, multifunction devices ) with this indicator.
The Energy Star can use any manufacturer who believes that his device meets this standard. It is sufficient to send a message to the EPA or, in the case of office and computer equipment in the European Union ( EU → Energy Star ), send a message to the EU Commission. An audit does not take place.
History
Since 1992 there is the Energy Star, which was launched by the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency ). In 2003, the Energy Star was officially introduced by an EU regulation in Europe.
There were some predecessors such as the GEEA label of the Group for Energy Efficient Appliances, which disbanded in favor of the Energy Star.
The Energy Star is the TCO labels, the oldest existing label, the computer hardware under Green IT aspects evaluated together with the.
Criteria for the Energy Star
- A / s switched on device / component has to switch back after a certain time.
- For each device, there are criteria for the maximum allowed energy consumption for a given period of time.
Recast for computer
On 1 July 2009, a new version ( version 5.0) of the computer specifications entered into force, which provides a new limit system based on a formula:
- Now there are no fixed limits per device type more. Rather, the limits are based on a differentiated formula.
- The formula consists of a basic factor of 8.76, which with the consumption values in watts for " Off ", "Hibernate in memory (S3) and " idle " as well as a set of Energy Star for the device type " typical " usage patterns (eg for a PC is the 55 % "off", 5% " Hibernate" and 40 % "idle" ) is multiplied.
- In addition, categories are defined, for example, on the number of processor cores or thereafter, if the computer has a dedicated graphics card.
- The result for the individual computer may not exceed ( for a PC with a dual core processor without its own graphics card applies, for example, the value of 175 kWh), as defined by Energy Star limits.
- For over the set of Energy Star base configuration beyond components (eg, more memory) can be added to the limit any additional values (eg per 1GB memory than 2GB in the PC category B each 1 kWh more to the limit 175 kWh).
Criticism
The Energy Star label, although it is widely used, because of its very small effect for two reasons criticized: the criteria are too weak and are met by more than 70 % of the electrical devices on the market, and it carried out no checks whether the manufacturers measure their equipment correctly and declare correctly. The rules do not constitute a sale provision but should be a seal of approval.