Standby Power Data Center FAQs
Buyers
- What if the product I want to buy isn't listed?
- What if the database doesn't show the kind of product I want to buy? What should I do then?
- How can I specify a compliant product in a solicitation or other procurement contract?
Manufacturers
- How can I get my product information included on the Web site?
- What is "Declared Standby Power"?
- I submit standby consumption for my company's products to ENERGY STAR. Do I need to submit it here also?
- What is a "hard-off switch" and what does it mean for my products?
Product Specific Questions
- What is included in the "Desktop Computer" category?
- Which category do I use to submit a printer/fax combination?
What is standby power?
Some appliances or devices actually consume electricity when they appear to be turned off. This power consumption is known as standby power, and 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 power supply (the little black cube on some power cords) 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 an amount of power consumption that occurs when a device is in the lowest power consuming mode.
Why should I care about this?
Federal agencies have been directed by Executive Order 13221, and are now required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (P.L.110-140), to buy products that consume only 1 watt of standby power or, where such a product is not available, the lowest available standby.
Agencies that buy products with low standby power can save on energy costs and help prevent pollution from power plants. Also, as the world's largest consumer, the federal government can help "pull" the market towards greater energy efficiency, while saving taxpayer dollars.
Standby power is a big issue. It accounts for 5-10% of residential energy use, and a smaller but significant portion of commercial energy use, in most developed countries. By buying and using products with low standby power, the Federal Government will be helping to reduce this load on our power system.
Buyers
What if the product I want to buy isn't listed?
If the specific product you want is not listed, contact your supplier or the manufacturer of the product and ask if they participate in the FEMP standby power program. If not, inform them that you cannot purchase their product unless they register it with FEMP through the Standby Power Data Center and encourage them to do so.
If the specific product you want to buy is listed but doesn't meet the FEMP Standby required level, consider whether a product that does meet the level will meet your needs. If not, then you must apply for an exemption from the requirement.
What if the database doesn't show the kind of product I want to buy? What should I do then?
If the database does not contain the product category you are looking for, this means FEMP has not identified the product category as a significant consumer of standby power in the federal sector. However, consumers should try to minimize standby power where they can: e.g. by explicitly asking for products with low standby power in solicitations, or asking for data about standby power and using that data as a decision criterion in a procurement award.
How can I specify a compliant product in a solicitation or other procurement contract?
In a solicitation, make sure the appropriate FEMP standby power level is included in the "Key Product Criteria". FEMP provides links to model procurement language for various product categories on its website, Model Language.
Manufacturers
How can I get my product information included on the Web site?
To get your products listed, please visit the Standby Power Data Center Data Submission page, or contact the Standby Power Data Center administrator (Emily Fisher) for more information.
What is "Declared Standby Power" ?
"Declared Standby Power" is the standby power consumption for a product declared by the manufacturer or other party submitting it to the Standby Power Database, and is defined to be the lowest power consumption while plugged into the mains power supply. This definition comes from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standby power test procedure: IEC 62301 (version 1.0, 2005). Those submitting data to the Standby Power Data Center should measure product standby power consumption using the IEC 62301 test procedure. A summary of this test procedure can be found here <link to test procedure summary>. For a discussion of the definition of standby power, see http://standby.lbl.gov.
Note that this definition implies that for products shipped with a "hard-off" switch, which disconnects all circuits from the mains, the standby power consumption is 0 W.
I submit standby consumption for my company's products to ENERGY STAR. Do I need to submit it here also?
In general, no – if you submit the data to ENERGY STAR, that is the data that will be used.
The best way to determine whether you need to submit your products to FEMP as well as to ENERGY STAR is to visit the Standby Power Data Center Data Submission page and follow the instructions provided there.
What is a "hard-off switch" and what does it mean for my products?
A hard-off switch is a switch integrated into a device that completely disconnects that device from the electrical mains. If a product has a hard-off switch it should be listed as having 0 W of standby power consumption. This is because standby power consumption is defined as being the power consumed in the lowest power consuming mode, which in this case occurs when the switch is turned off and there is no power consumption.
Product Specific Questions
What is included in the "Desktop Computer" category?
The category "Desktop Computer" includes desktop computers, workstations and integrated computers. Workstations are defined as desktop computers that support more than one processor (regardless of how many cores), or desktop computers that are marketed as workstations. Integrated computers are non-portable devices with both computer and computer display integrated into one unit, powered by one power source.
Which category do I use to submit a printer/fax combination?
Printer/fax combinations should be submitted in the Fax category. These products will be held to the Fax standby level.
For more information on standby power, see the Standby Power page maintained by Berkeley Lab.