Covered Product Category: Personal Computer

FEMP provides acquisition guidance across a variety of product categories, including personal computers (PCs), which are an ENERGY STAR®-qualified product category. Federal laws and executive orders mandate that agencies meet these efficiency requirements in all procurement and acquisition actions that are not specifically exempted by law.

Most manufacturers display the ENERGY STAR label on complying models. For a model not displaying this label, check the manufacturer's literature to determine if it meets the efficiency requirements outlined by ENERGY STAR.

This product category overview covers the following:

Energy Efficiency Requirements
Contracting Considerations
Buyer Tips: How to Choose Efficient Products
Cost-Effectiveness Example
User Tips: How to Use Products More Efficiently
Federal Supply Sources

Energy Efficiency Requirements

For the most up-to-date efficiency levels required by ENERGY STAR, look for the ENERGY STAR label or visit the ENERGY STAR Product Specifications website. For more information, contact the FEMP point of contact listed at the bottom of this page.

Contracting Considerations

These requirements apply to all forms of procurement, including construction guide specifications and project specifications; renovation, repair, maintenance, and energy service contracts; lease agreements; acquisitions made using purchase cards; and solicitations for offers. Energy efficiency requirements should be included in both the evaluation criteria of solicitations and the evaluations of solicitation responses.

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 23.206 requires Federal agencies to insert the clause at FAR section 52.223-15 in solicitations and contracts that deliver, acquire, furnish, or specify energy-consuming products. FEMP recommends that agencies incorporate efficiency requirements into both the technical specification and evaluation sections of solicitations. Agencies may claim an exception to these requirements through a written finding that no ENERGY STAR-qualified or FEMP-designated product is available to meet the functional requirements, or that no such product is life-cycle cost effective for the specific application. Additional information on Federal requirements is available.

Buyer Tips: How to Choose Efficient Products

Make sure that computer power management features are enabled by the supplier or installer and are compatible with the monitor, software, and network. The highest energy savings are available when the computer is in the lowest appropriate power mode.

Laptops offer many of the same features as desktop models, plus portability. However, combining a laptop with an external monitor or docking station increases power use.

Note that computers are often acquired through IT service providers. Make sure that such IT service contracts contain appropriate pass-through provisions to require the purchase of ENERGY STAR-qualified products for all products acquired for Federal use.

Computers are a product type covered by purchasing requirements for products with low standby power. Refer to the Standby Power Data Center for information about products that meet low standby requirements.

Determining Cost Effectiveness

An efficient product is cost effective when the energy cost savings over its functional lifetime exceed any initial incremental cost above a base model (i.e., energy cost savings is greater than additional costs at time of purchase). Federal purchasers may assume that ENERGY STAR-qualified and products meeting FEMP-designated efficiency requirements are life-cycle cost effective. However, users wishing to determine cost effectiveness for their application may do so using the below cost-effectiveness example or the ENERGY STAR office equipment energy and cost calculator.

Products meeting FEMP-designated efficiency requirements or ENERGY STAR performance specifications may not be life-cycle cost effective in certain low-use applications, such as when a device is being purchased for backup purposes and will remain in off mode for most of its useful life. Note that in such cases, buyers should seek a product with the lowest possible standby power consumption. For most other average or high-use applications, purchasers will find that energy-efficient products have the lowest life-cycle cost.

User Tips: How to Use Products More Efficiently

Enable computer power management features to the shortest time period and lowest power mode consistent with your needs. Even for computers with a low-power sleep mode, more energy can be saved if the computer is manually shut it off completely at night, on weekends, and during long periods of non-use during the day. If your networked computer(s) must stay on and connected at night for file backup or other purposes, make sure the monitor is shut off. Note that there are numerous free and commercial solutions for managing computer power settings remotely. Look for network features that provide a timed shutdown, automatic shutdown after file backup, or auto-boot-up before backup. Using sleep and off modes will not shorten computer life.

Plug-in power supplies for laptops typically draw power even when the laptop is turned off. To save energy, unplug your power supply after the laptop battery is charged, or use a power strip with an on-off switch.

Many laptops (and some desktops) offer a hibernate feature, which saves active programs and files before shutting off, then restores the same status when the computer is turned on. This added convenience encourages users to shut off their computers when not in use.

Federal Supply Sources

Federal supply sources are the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). GSA sells products through its Multiple Awards Schedules and GSA Advantage! DLA offers products through the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia and DOD EMALL.