How to Buy Products with Low Standby Power
Legal Authorities
Federal agencies are required by the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (P.L. 95-619), Executive Order 13423 and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 23.2 and 53.223 to specify and buy ENERGY STAR®-qualified products or, in categories not included in the ENERGY STAR program, FEMP-designated products which are among the highest 25 percent of equivalent products for energy efficiency.
Agencies are required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and Executive Order 13221 to purchase products with a standby power level of 1 watt or less.
Information about low standby power in this section includes the following:
- Performance Requirements for Federal Purchases
- Buying Products with Low Standby Power
- Buyer Tips
- Cost-Effectiveness Example
- Cost-Effectiveness Assumptions
- Using the Cost-Effectiveness Table
- What if my Electricity Price or Operating Hours Are Different?
- For More Information
Also provided is a portable document format version of Purchasing Specifications for Low Standby Power (PDF 231 KB). Download Adobe Reader.
| Performance Requirements for Federal Purchases | |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Required Standby Level |
| Office Equipment | |
| Desktop Computer | 2 watts or less |
| Integrated Computer | 2 watts or less |
| Laptop Computer | 1 watt or less |
| Workstation | 2 watts or less |
| Computer Monitor | 1 watt or less |
| Printer | 1 watt or less |
| Copier | 1 watt or less |
| Scanner | 1 watt or less |
| Fax/Printer | 2 watts or less |
| Multifunction Device | 1 watt or less |
| Docking Station | 2 watts or less |
| Audio/Video Products | |
| TV | 1 watt or less |
| VCR | 2 watts or less |
| TV/VCR/DVD Combo | 3 watts or less |
| DVD Player | 1 watt or less |
| Consumer Audio | 1 watt or less |
| Major Appliances | |
| Microwave Oven | 2 watts or less |
Buying Products with Low Standby Power
This Specification applies to products in the Product Types listed above. When purchasing products of a type listed above, specify or select products that meet the Performance Requirement shown. Electronic products that are not listed above are required to meet a standby power level of 1 watt or less unless such a product is not available or is not cost-effective in the intended application. In that case, the buyer should seek a product with the lowest-available standby power level.
When buying or specifying a product listed in the table above for which an ENERGY STAR program exists, make sure that the product is both ENERGY STAR-qualified and also meets the required standby power level. Some, but not all, ENERGY STAR-qualified products have low standby power levels that meet the Performance Requirements. FEMP maintains an on-line database of products that meet the requirements of this Purchasing Specification. For a current list of models, go to the Standby Power Data Center (see For More Information) and click on the "Search Database" link.
Buyer Tips
Some devices consume electricity when they appear to be turned off. This power consumption is known as standby power, and it occurs for a variety of reasons. In some cases, standby power allows the device to receive signals from a remote control, network, or soft key-pad; in others, standby power is consumed because the external power supply or some internal circuit is not disconnected when the device is turned off.
The formal definition used by FEMP of standby power is the power consumed by a product when in the lowest power consuming mode. This typically occurs when the product is switched off or not performing its primary purpose.
Note that some organizations use the term "standby power" to refer to all low-power modes. FEMP does not consider standby power a mode, but rather a level of power consumption that occurs when a device is in the lowest power consuming mode.
| Cost-Effectiveness Example 100 Computer Monitors |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Base Model | Required | Best Available |
| Energy Consumption (watts) | 200 watts | 100 watts | 0 watts |
| Annual Energy Use (kWh/year) | 1,200 kWh | 600 kWh | 0 kWh |
| Annual Energy Cost | $96 | $48 | $0 |
| Lifetime Energy Cost | $356 | $178 | $0 |
| Lifetime Energy Cost Savings | — | $178 | $356 |
Cost-Effectiveness Assumptions
Annual energy use is based on the manufacturer-declared standby power level as measured by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) test procedure 62301 v1.0–2005 and an assumed 6,000 hours per year in the lowest power consuming mode. Annual Energy Cost assumes a federal electricity price of 8¢ per kWh. Lifetime Energy Cost is the sum of the discounted value of annual energy costs based on average usage and an assumed product life of 4 years. Future electricity price trends and discount rates are based on federal guidelines effective April 2009 througth March 2010.
Using the Cost-Effectiveness Table
In the example above, an agency purchase of 100 computer monitors at the Required standby level of 1 watt is cost-effective if the total purchase is no more than $178 above the price of the Base Model with a standby level of 2 watts. The Best Available model, with a standby level of 0 watts, is cost-effective if its purchase price is no more than $356 above the Base Model. Products with low standby power typically do not cost more to purchase.
What if my Electricity Price or Operating Hours Are Different?
To adjust this cost-effectiveness rule of thumb for a different electricity price, multiply the typical lifetime energy cost savings above by this ratio: (Your price in ¢/kWh) ÷ (8.0¢/kWh). To adjust for the hours a device is consuming power at the standby power level, multiply the typical lifetime energy cost savings above by this ratio: Your hours ÷ 6,000 hours.
For More Information
- DOE's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Help Desk and web site have up-to-date information on energy-efficient federal procurement, including the latest versions of purchasing recommendations for other products.
Phone: 1-877-EERE-INF or 1-877-337-3463 - FEMP maintains the Standby Power Data Center, an online database of products that meet this recommendation for low standby power.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ENERGY STAR® performance specifications and product listings for product categories listed in this Purchasing Specification.
Phone: (888) STAR-YES (782-7937) - International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) publishes the test procedure for measuring standby power.
Phone: +41 22 919 02 11 - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory provided product research and life cycle cost analysis in support of this Specification.
Phone: (202) 488-2250