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Performance specifications for ENERGY STAR-labeled office equipment

Office equipment labeled ENERGY STAR often must be more efficient than nonlabeled equipment when in active operation as well as during periods of inactivity. In some cases, there are additional requirements.

Equipment	ENERGY STAR specifications
Computers	Require improved efficiency over all operation modes due to use of highly efficient power supplies. Automatically enter a low-power sleep mode within 30 minutes of inactivity.
Copiers	Require improved efficiency when the product is in use. Also power down when not in use to a low energy consumption level. Depending on the speed, may be required to print double-sided pages, reducing both copying and paper costs.
Fax machines	Require improved efficiency when the product is in use. Automatically power down after 5 minutes of inactivity. Combination printer/fax machines consume half as much energy when idle as two stand-alone products.
Laptops	Require improved efficiency over all operation modes due to use of highly efficient internal and external power supplies. If left inactive, enter a low-power mode and may use 15 watts or less.
Monitors	Require improved efficiency when they are in active mode. Use 2 watts or less in sleep mode and 1 watt or less in off mode. Use up to 85 percent less electricity than standard models.
Multifunction devices	Offer copying as well as printing, faxing, scanning, and/or other capabilities. Automatically power down after 15 to 60 minutes of inactivity, depending on equipment speed. May require automated duplexing, depending on the speed.
Printers	Require improved efficiency when the product is in use. Automatically power down after 5 to 60 minutes of inactivity, depending on equipment speed. May require automated duplexing, depending on the speed.
Scanners	Require improved efficiency when the product is in use. Automatically power down after 15 minutes when not in use.
Source: EPA

According to the study, "Does Green Pay Off?," ENERGY STAR rated commercial buildings have sale prices 30% per sq. ft. higher than traditional buildings.

Compared to traditional buildings, owners and managers of ENERGY STAR rated buildings can expect

• $2 per sq. ft. greater rents,
• 2% higher occupancy rates and
• $0.54 per sq. ft. lower energy-related operating costs

Operating expenses from energy costs varied with Energy Star-rated buildings running $1.27 per square foot per year for energy in 2006 and non-Energy Star-rated buildings running $1.81 per square foot.

Survey results are based on findings in a study released last week. Norm Miller, a professor at the University of San Diego, and Jay Spivey and Andy Florance, the research director and CEO respectively with CoStar. They compared 223 ENERGY STAR rated Class A office buildings of at least 200,000 sq. ft. with 2,077 non-ENERGY STAR buildings of the same class and size.

Buildings with the ENERGY STAR label are among the 25% most efficient of similar buildings nationwide.

Creative art event by EPA and DOE spreads the word about refrigerator energy recycling

If Americans replaced pre-1993 refrigerators with ENERGY STAR models, the saved energy could generate enough power for more than 8.1 million homes yearly.

An easy way for Americans to lower their electricity consumption would be to recycle that old second refrigerator or freezer, or to replace their current unit with a new ENERGY STAR unit.

ART Show Brings Cool Attention to Recycling Fridges!

Here's an idea for your community:

Up to 50 decorated refrigerators will be on display at the The Art of Recycling: The Coolest Show in Town, a special exhibit at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Exhibition visitors can vote on a favorite model. A panel of judges will select the top three entries based on the following criteria: coolest; best use of recycled materials; overall creativity; and best portrayal of the campaign theme - The Art of Recycling.

Source: US Department of Energy

Suppliers and Purchasers of Energy Star products now have an on line bulk purchase exhange site.

Energy Star is a trusted name in the energy conservation arena. Appliances and supplies are developed with realistic, yet sustainable goals to help reduce energy use.

ENERGY STAR and the U.S. Department of Energy have developed a new on-line tool that can reduce costs for facilities and operations.

This new on-line tool, found at www.quantityquotes.net, is available to help organizations become more energy-efficient by making it easier to purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products.

This Quantity Quotes tool was designed so that bulk-quantity purchasers can easily request price quotes from a wide variety of suppliers, exclusively of ENERGY STAR qualified products.

What Products Are Available?

• ENERGY STAR qualified light bulbs
• ENERGY STAR qualified light fixtures
• ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers
• ENERGY STAR qualified dehumidifiers
• ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers
• ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators
• ENERGY STAR qualified room air conditioners

Energy Star Suppliers Can Register

Suppliers can register to receive information requests from purchasers. After corresponding with purchasers and providing requested information, a purchaser can contact a supplier in order to negotiate a contract.

Energy Star Purchasers Can Research Online

Purchasers can register to instantly contact suppliers of ENERGY STAR qualified products. Guidance is provided to assist purchasers in the Request for Information (RFI) process. After corresponding with a supplier and receiving requested information, the purchaser can choose to contact a supplier in order to negotiate a contract.

Your utility costs are a major monthly expense. If your laundromat or laundry room's washing machines are over 5 years old, you may be paying too much on your utility bills.

By installing new High Efficiency Clothes Washers (HEW), you can reduce your energy costs by about 50%. In addition, you will lower your water and sewer costs by 35-50%.

The new, High Efficiency Clothes Washers help to minimize drying time by extracting more water from the clothes in the spin cycle than in traditional machines. High Efficiency Washers also require 50% less laundry detergent, so customers will realize additional savings.

Rebate programs often have a number of High Efficiency Clothes Washers (HEW) that qualify in a variety of price ranges, with a factor of 7.5 gallons of water per cycle or less. Rebates are frequently available for units installed and operating in facilities such as laundromats, multiple housing units, common areas and hotels or motels.

Some Companies that Manufacture High-Efficiency Clothes Washers

Today, high-efficiency clothes washers are produced by every major domestic manufacturer and are readily available in virtually all retail outlets.

• Huebsch
• LG Electronics
• Maytag
• Speed Queen
• Unimac
• Wascomat

High efficiency washing machines with Energy Star certification can save both water and energy...and utility costs.

When buying an appliance, remember that it has two price tags:

ONE: How much you pay to take it home and

TWO:  How much you pay for the energy and water it uses.

ENERGY STAR qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10-50% less energy and water than standard models. The money you save on your utility bills can more than make up for the cost of a more expensive but more efficient ENERGY STAR model. www.energystar.gov

An estimated 84 million American households own washing machines and approximately 8 million washers are sold in the United States annually.

Clothes washers meeting CEE's specifications use up to 72 percent less energy and up to 57 percent less water compared to standard-efficiency washers.

Federal high-efficiency energy minimum standard for clothes washers include a Modified Energy Factor (MEF) of 1.26.

They are projected to save as much as 475 kWh per year when used with an electric water heater and electric dryer.

Savings are projected to be up to 13 therms of gas per year when used with a gas water heater and gas dryer.

Potential water savings are estimated at up to 8,000 gallons annually.

SOURCE: CEE