ENERGY STAR® Green Machines Computer Specification 4.0 & Beyond*

ENERGY STAR® Green Machines Computer Specification 4.0 & Beyond* Chicago-Kent College of Law Energy Law Spring 2008 Brian O Watson April 30, 2008 The ENERGY STAR® specification for computers is currently under revision for Version 5.0 Tier of the Version 4.0 Specification went into effect on July 20, 2007 * Presentation Overview ENERGY STARđ Generally ENERGY STARđ Computer Specifications ENERGY STARđ Power Supply Specifications ENERGY STAR® Shortfalls Know Your Eco Labels What Is ENERGY STAR ? ® ENERGY STAR® is: a joint program of the EPA and the Department of Energy geared toward helping Americans save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices ENERGY STAR® principally is: a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products through its partnerships with more than 9,000 private and public sector organizations ENERGY STAR® costs (MM): 40+ Product Categories Are Covered by ENERGY STAR® Lighting CFLs Residential light fixtures Exit signs Traffic signals Heating & Cooling Central AC Heat pumps Boilers Furnaces Ceiling fans Room AC Ventilating fans Office Equipment Computers Monitors Printers Copiers Scanners Fax machines Multi-function devices Home Envelope Home sealing Roof products Windows/Doors Commercial Food Service Refrigerators Freezers Fryers Steamers Hot food cabinets Vending machines Appliances Clothes washers Dishwashers Refrigerators Dehumidifiers Air cleaners Water coolers Home Electronics Battery chargers Cordless phones Answering machines TV/VCRs DVD products Home audio External power adaptors ENERGY STAR® Specification Development Process ENERGY STAR® Computer Version 4.0 Timeline July, 2006 EPA will distribute an update document to all stakeholders informing them of the Agency’s approach for workstations August, 2006 Industry Data Due to EPA on Current Models (all product categories) September, 2006 Stakeholder comments due on proposed levels September, 2006 Stakeholder Comments Due on Final Draft July, 2007 Specification is effective, EC Approval July, 2006 Stakeholder Comments Due on Draft August, 2006 EPA releases proposed levels in the form of an Update September, 2006 EPA Releases Final Draft with Levels October, 2006 EPA Releases Final Specification Consumers Trust ENERGY STAR® The ENERGY STAR® mark ranks among the highest level of influence on product purchase among all consumer emblems, similar in ranking to the Good Housekeeping Seal and Consumer Reports 91% 90% 89% 88% 87% 87% 86% 85% Tremendous Influence Great Deal of Influence Some Influence 71% 57% 54% 46% 37% Consumer Value in ENERGY STARđ Consumer awareness and desire for efficiency savings is high, both economically and altruistically • In 2006, more than 65% of households nationwide recognized the ENERGY STARđ label Of households that purchased ENERGY STAR® products in the past year: – More than 60% of them reported the label as influential to their purchasing decision – More than 70% of them reported they are likely to recommend ENERGY STAR® products to friends The Question • How much energy can we expect to save in 2008 through ENERGY STAR®? National Electricity Use and Savings Potential for Various Products Containing Power Supplies What Is an “Efficient” Power Supply? • “Efficiency” = power out / power in • Measure both when product is in active mode (operating) and standby modes • If product has high active power use or long average hours of use/day, active will dominate – (If not, standby mode may dominate) • Ideally, a power supply-containing product has minimal standby consumption, high operating efficiency across a wide range of load conditions, and is smart enough to “sleep” after inactivity Power Conversion Thermographs of Computer Tower “OFF” - 17 Watts Power Supply ON - 21 Watts Microprocessor Why So Bad? Losses Are Somewhat a Matter of Design Price vs Value Propositions Goal: Lowest Price Goal: Highest Value • Take cost out “at all costs” • Quality and reliability can drop • No product differentiation • Least common denominator design: no features, no profits • Penny-wise/pound foolish: What saves the buyer $1 upfront can add $10 or $20 to lifetime energy costs • All of us pay more – higher energy bills, more air pollution, more new power plants and power lines • Emphasis on clever design and differentiation: multiple viable paths to success • Minimize lifecycle cost: purchase price + lifetime maintenance, energy, & pollution costs • Specs, labels, and utility programs help build a message of value: “may cost more, but worth more” • Products more desirable: smaller, quieter, cooler, more convenient Savings Potential is Huge • What if all linear power supplies were improved from about 30% efficiency to 80%? • What if all switching power supplies were improved from about 70% efficiency to 80%? – Well, annual savings would be more than 1% of total U.S electricity use: about 32 billion kW-h and more than $2.5 billion in lower energy bills • Very cost effective – incremental costs often less than $1 (in some cases pennies) per power supply • Additional savings possible from substantial reductions in standby mode power consumption (currently averages 50 to 100 watts/home) What Is 80 Plus? • * 80 PLUS is an electric utility-funded incentive program to integrate more energy-efficient power supplies into desktop computers and servers – Ecos Consulting & EPRI pay incentives and provide marketing and design/test support for all qualifying PCs shipped into the service territories of participating utilities throughout the U.S • • Market barriers prevented widespread manufacture and use of highly efficient power supplies 80 PLUS is a manufacturer buy-down program for efficient power supplies in desktop PCs and desktop-derived servers – Participating utilities and energy efficiency organizations across North America have contributed over $5 million of incentives to help the computer industry transition to 80 PLUS certified power supplies • • Qualifying units must be at least 80% efficient at 20%, 50%, and 100% load, plus have a power factor of at least 0.9 at 100% load Utility payments of $5 per qualifying PC will lead to annual energy savings of 85 kW-h/unit, or more than $25 over a computer’s year life * It’s not ENERGY STAR®? ENERGY STAR® Computer Specification (Version 4.0) goes into effect The specification includes 80 PLUS power supply efficiency levels for desktop computers (July 20, 2007) 80 PLUS Efficiency Test Results 352 Compliant Models from 66 Manufacturers Progress on the Federal Level? LocalCooling.com: Conscious Way to Expend Electricity Behind the Green Curtain • World of Tech Big tech companies are going green – … but what about the off-brand subcontractors that actually make their components? – But what about your old PC? ENERGY STAR® Appliances Save More Than the Label Suggests ENERGY STAR Conclusion ®