EU Energy Star specifications for computers

This week I have been looking at the EU Energy Star Programme’s specifications for computers. The Energy Star Programme identifies energy efficient computers and office equipment.

The most recent specifications for computers came into effect on 1 July 2009. The specifications set out the requirements that a computer needs to meet to use the Energy Star label. The most recent specifications for computers are set out in Commission Decision 2009/489/EC.

Here is a summary of the requirements for desktop computers (such as Mac Pros), integrated desktop computers (combined computer and monitor, such as iMacs), and notebook computers (such as MacBooks). The specifications go into a lot of detail for different computer set ups and capabilities. This is a broad overview of the numbers.

Desktop and integrated desktop computers must have a typical energy consumption of 138 - 204 kWh per year or less. This is based on the computer spending 55% of time off, 5% of time in sleep mode, and 40% of time idle.

Notebook computers must have a typical energy consumption of 40 - 88.5 kWh per year or less. This is based on the computer spending 60% of time off, 10% of time in sleep mode, and 30% of time idle.

The energy consumption requirements appear to be baseline figures. They do not take into account any active use of the computers.

In addition to meeting the energy consumption requirements, computers must also have power management enabled. The display must sleep after 15 minutes of user inactivity, and the computer must sleep after 30 minutes of user inactivity.