"PC" means "power conscious" in new Energy Star requirements
By Suzanne Deffree, News Editor -- EDN, July 19, 2007
Companies that use the EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency's) Energy Star logo on their products as marketing leverage will need to meet new, stricter design requirements. The first phase of Energy Star 4.0 goes into effect July 20 and includes new performance requirements to qualify for the rating on desktop, notebook, and tablet computers; workstations; integrated computers; desktop-derived servers; and game consoles.
Version 4.0 defines a set of testing criteria and power limits that could reduce the amount of energy that idle equipment consumes by an average of 45%, according to the EPA. To do so, Energy Star 4.0 requires, regardless of the system type, that the display enter a sleep state after 15 minutes of system inactivity; the platform enter a sleep state after 30 minutes of system inactivity; and the platform's GbE (Gigabit Ethernet) link switch to a lower rate mode when entering the sleep mode. In addition, systems for an enterprise market must include wake-on LAN during the sleep state. The specification includes certain additional power limits, which depend on the device type and power state.
The EPA has set a goal of 25% compliance for each of the platform categories. The agency plans a second phase of Version 4.0 in 2009.
