The International Network
for Sustainable Energy

EU Energy Policy:
- Energy Star - Voluntary Agreement

Updated: June 2010

In June 2009, the new Energy Star specifications have been adopted by the European Community for computers and imaging equipment.
All the documents and new registration form are now available for download.
More info: EU Energy Star.

Regulation on "A Community Energy-Efficiency Labelling Programme for Office Equipment". January 2008.
This regulation (No. 106/2008) was adopted by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament. It sets up rules for the Energy Star Programme for energy efficient office equipment, such as
- new energy-efficiency criteria,
- creation of an Energy Star board and
- creation of a work plan by the Commission to develop the Energy Star Programme further.

Agreement on the continuation of Energy Star for another 5 years. December 2006.
In December 2006, the EU and the USA signed an agreement to continue the Energy Star Programme for another 5 years. This new agreement introduces further developed criteria that take into account energy consumption in both the use and the stand-by phases.

Launching of the EU Energy Star Programme in Europe. November 2001.
In 2000, the EU Commission and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed to use the "Energy Star" in Europe. This agreement came into force in November 2001 and the labelling process really began in 2002. The EU Energy Star labels energy efficient office equipment sold on the European market. This made it easier for consumers to buy energy efficient equipment in Europe.

Database
The Energy Star web site contains a Database with energy use and performance information on all the European labeled office equipments, so consumers can compare them.
Among the equipments are: computers, monitors, copy machines, faxes. More than 60 brands are registered.
It is expected that the increased consumer focus on energy efficiency caused by this star in the EU countries will save 10 TWh annually in 2015, equivalent to about 0.4% of electricity consumption in the 15 EU countries.

Calculator
The Energy Star web site includes an Energy Calculator. Thanks to this function you can enter the characteristics of your own equipment (computer, monitor, printer, modem) and describe your way to use it (how many hours per day, stand-by or off mode). With this information the calculator totals up how much electricity your equipment consume per year and how much does it cost.

While "Energy Star" is a good, simple sign of more energy efficient products, it does not tell how to find the most energy-efficient equipment as it only has one category. The criteria to get the energy star are gradually increasing.

Read more about the Energy Star in the EU on the European Commission’s web site. You can also see if your equipment qualifies for a "star" or choose your new computer on eu-energystar.org. Read about the "Energy Star" in the US at www.energystar.gov.

Other Databases on Equipments' Energy Consumption
There are other web-based databases like the Energy Star database. Examples are: Topten and Homespeed.

Topten presents the best products available in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland. In addition to office equipments other categories of items are available like cars, cold, households, lamps and circulation pumps. However, some products like computers are missing. Very few choices are available for each product (maximum 16) but they are the best ones and they are well described (e.g. electricity consumption for each mode).
Topten started in 2000 in a non-EU country (Switzerland) and was extended in 2004 in France, in 2005 in Austria, in 2006 in Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Spain, in 2007 in Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Italy. Topten is supported by Intelligent Energy Europe and by WWF. It is implemented in each country by national organisations and coordinated by ADEME (French Agency for Environment and Energy Management).

Homespeed contains many products regarding household appliances, consumer electronics and office equipment (21176 appliances gathered in 29 groups). The electricity consumption data are available for Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
Unfortunately, some data are missing. E.g., electricity consumption of some TVs and some computers are not available. Often you cannot find the consumption when the machines are turned on.
Home speed was realized as a part of the EU SAVE program and is partially funded by the EU Commission DG TREN (Directorate General for Transport and Energy). The information concerning the equipments are collected in each countries by private consultants or public institutes.

« Return to EU Energy Policy