Did You Know? Energy Star Products

Energy Efficient Battery Chargers

In the U.S. alone, more energy efficient battery chargers have the potential to save Americans more than 1.5 billion kilowatt hours of energy every year, saving Americans more than $170 million annually while preventing the release of more than 2 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions — equivalent to the emissions of 200,000 cars.

Battery charging systems are components used to recharge a wide variety of cordless products, including power tools, small household appliances, and personal care products like electric shavers. Approximately 230 million products with battery charging systems are currently in use in American homes and businesses.

Conventional battery chargers — even when not actively charging a product — can draw as much as 5 to 20 times more energy than is actually stored in the battery! ENERGY STAR certified battery chargers, on average use about 30% less energy than conventional models.

Household Electricity Costs

US households spend approximately $100 annually — roughly 8 percent of household electricity costs — to power devices while they are in a low power mode. Home electronics including audio, video, and telephony products account for 40% of low power mode consumption

ENERGY STAR qualified cordless phones, answering machines, and combination units perform much more efficiently and use about half the energy of standard units by incorporating improved energy performance features such as switch-mode power supplies and "smart" chargers.

Earning the ENERGY STAR means products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Home electronics that have earned the ENERGY STAR deliver exceptional features, while using less energy. Saving energy helps you save money on utility bills and protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the fight against climate change.

Computers

If all computers sold in the U.S. met ENERGY STAR requirements, the savings in energy costs would grow to $1.8 billion each year, reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from more than 2 million vehicles.

Power management is important to saving energy, especially since computers are often in use more hours per day than they used to be. ENERGY STAR power management features place computers (CPU, hard drive, etc.) into a low-power "sleep mode" after a designated period of inactivity. Simply hitting a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse awakens the computer in a matter of seconds.

Activating power management features on an ENERGY STAR qualified desktop delivers lifetime energy savings that can go a long way towards paying the cost of a new computer.

Televisions

Almost half of U.S. households own three or more televisions. With the average TV getting larger and consuming more energy, the TVs in your household could be using as much electricity as your refrigerator.

More than 19 million TV’s will be greater than 40 inches in size. With televisions getting bigger and using more energy, it’s no wonder that most consumers say that energy efficiency will be a factor in their next television choice. Look for the ENERGY STAR label to save energy, save money, and help protect the climate.

ENERGY STAR certified televisions are on average, over 25 percent more energy efficient than conventional models, saving energy in all usage modes: sleep, idle, and on. The label can be found on everything from standard TVs to large screen TVs with the latest features like 3D and internet connectivity. Many models that earn the ENERGY STAR incorporate LEDs, the latest in screen backlighting technology.

Saving energy with ENERGY STAR certified home entertainment products helps protect the climate. A home equipped with TVs, a Blu-Ray player, a compact audio system, and a home-theatre-in-a-box that have earned the ENERGY STAR, can save more than $200 over the life of the products. If each TV, DVD player, and home theatre system purchased in the U.S. this year earned the ENERGY STAR, we would prevent more than 2.2 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions every year, equal to the emissions from more than 200,000 cars.

Home Audio Video Equipment


A home equipped with TVs, a Blu-Ray player, a compact system, and a home theatre in a box that have earned the ENERGY STAR, can save more than $200 over the life of the products.

According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the average household owns 24 consumer electronics products. In fact, consumer electronic products are responsible for 15 percent of household electricity use.

ENERGY STAR certified audio/video equipment is up to 60% more efficient than conventional models. Blu-Ray players that meet ENERGY STAR qualifications are, on average, 45% more efficient than conventional models.

The ENERGY STAR can be found on a wide range of equipment such as:

  • Home-Theater-in-a-Box Systems
  • MP3 speaker docks
  • Audio Amplifiers
  • AV receivers
  • Shelf systems
  • Blu-ray Disc players
  • DVD players

Earning the ENERGY STAR means products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. ENERGY STAR certified products provide all the functionality as standard products but use less energy, reducing their impact on the environment. ENERGY STAR qualified consumer electronic products save energy in comparison to non-ENERGY STAR qualified products because they are more efficient in all usage modes: sleep, idle, and on.

Consumers are increasingly considering the environment as they shop for home electronics and can feel good about purchasing ENERGY STAR certified products. Saving energy helps consumers save money on utility bills and protect the climate by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. If each TV, DVD, and home theatre system purchased in the U.S. this year earned the ENERGY STAR, we would prevent more than 2.2 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions every year, equal to the emissions from more than 200,000 cars.