EPA to Complete 21 Energy Star Product Spec Updates This Year
Energy Star specifications will be updated at least every two years for “rapidly evolving” products and every three years or when market share reaches 35 percent for other products, the EPA and the Department of Energy said in 2011 work plan. The EPA expects to complete 21 of the 25 specification updates under way this year, driven by growing market share, new federal standards, fresh “efficiency opportunities,” and new openings to “expand coverage,” the agencies said. Several types of electronics and computing gear are marked for new specifications or standards updates in 2011.
The EPA sees “significant energy savings opportunity” in a specification for game consoles and expects to complete a standard in the third or fourth quarter, the agencies said. Utilities and retailers have expressed interest in the standard, they said. Specification updates due to be completed later this year include those for computers, displays, imaging gear and data center servers. New products lined up for Energy Star specification this year include uninterruptible power supplies, data center storage gear, small network equipment and climate control devices.
The EPA also has Energy Star “scoping plans” in 2011 for home data storage equipment, home security systems, projectors, data center telecom networking gear and data center cooling, and home energy monitors and controls. The DOE will support EPA by monitoring and verifying compliance with Energy Star specifications, and “leading the development of product test procedures,” the agencies said. The department will be developing eight test procedures for Energy Star products this year, in addition to the test procedure rulemakings that are covered by the DOE’s regulatory program, they said. The final specification for the top-tier, “most efficient” Energy Star program for TVs and other products will be released this month, they said.
The EPA will work with other federal agencies and state and local governments to “leverage” Energy Star in Recovery Act funded projects, in energy use disclosure mandates and in awareness campaigns, the agencies said. The DOE will provide “financing guidance, workforce guidelines and policy best practices,” for the program, they said.