International Cooperation Agreement on Energy Efficiency of Office Equipment

15/10/2006

5 October 2006

The Commission presents a new International Cooperation Agreement on Energy Efficiency of Office Equipment

The European Commission proposed today a new five year Agreement with the United States on the ENERGY STAR programme the aim of which is to foster and reinforce the energy efficiency of office equipment. This new agreement will be the continuation of the 5 year programme first introduced in 2001. It covers computers, monitors, copiers, printers and fax machines, which are responsible for approx. 5% of the EU's electricity consumption.

“I expect that this proposed agreement will continue the successful cooperation with the USA to effectively foster the energy efficiency of office equipment. ENERGY STAR is a successful example for international cooperation on the energy efficiency of goods traded worldwide", said Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.

The proposed new Agreement contains innovative and demanding energy efficiency criteria for copiers, printers and similar equipment, resulting in estimated energy savings of 17 TWh in the EU over the next three years. New exacting energy efficiency criteria for computers will be available soon and are expected to result in similar energy savings. Following the Commission's proposal the Agreement now remains to be concluded by the Council.

The new Energy Star Agreement and the accompanying proposal for an adapted regulation for programme implementation in the EU are building on the experiences gained during the first programme period which started in 2001. The programme encourages and supports procurers and consumers in purchasing efficient products through the provision of a label for equipment complying with the programme’s energy efficiency criteria. It also provides assistance on how to save energy and money by the proper use of equipment.

In the near future, the Commission will present an Energy Efficiency Action Plan with the objective of saving 20% of current energy consumption by 2020. ENERGY STAR agreements will be part of this strategy.

For further information: www.eu-energystar.org