WASHINGTON (CN) - The U.S. Department of Energy seeks comments on its determination that computers and servers should be included as covered products under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), which sets labeling and efficiency standards for household goods.
If approved, the agency's action would clear the way for developing the type of labeling and efficiency standards already imposed on household appliances such as washers, dryers, air conditioners and televisions, under the EnergySTAR program.
Provisions of the EPCA give the Secretary of Energy the authority to classify additional types of consumer products as covered products under the act, according to the agency's action. To classify a product as a consumer product under the act, the agency most show that doing so is "necessary to carry out the purposes of the EPCA" and the product's average annual per-household energy use is likely to exceed 100 kWh per year.
Computers and servers qualify, according to the action.
National electricity usage is about 30.3 billion kWh in the residential sector and 31.3 billion kWh in the commercial sector. Most households have some form of computer, 63 percent owning a desktop and 65 percent owning a notebook, laptop or netbook, the agency said in its action.
"Coverage of computers will enable the conservation of energy supplies through both labeling programs and the regulation of computer energy efficiency. There is significant variation in the annual energy consumption of different models currently available, therefore technologies exist to reduce the energy consumption of computers," the agency said in its action.
Comments are due by Aug. 12.
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