Energy Star 5.0 is in effect

The EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) Energy Star 5.0 Specification for Computers went into effect on July 1, 2009. The specification applies to desktop, notebook, and thin-client systems. The EPA finalized the specification, which went through the EPA's standard comment period, on Nov 14, 2008. Comments from stakeholders encouraged including in the specification clarification of a full network connectivity definition, a sliding scale for graphics capability in desktops to provide for discrete GPUs (graphics-processing units) and associated capability, and guidance on wireless-radio and hard-drive-power-management status during idle testing.

The EPA reports that development of the specification's game-console requirements will continue through the year. With the effective date for consoles scheduled for July 1, 2010, the EPA also aims to engage game publishers when finalizing requirements for the specification to ensure that games do not hinder console-power management. The process to qualify computers will be generally consistent with what was in place for Version 4.0 of the specification, with a requirement for an active manufacturer partnership and the collection of data through the EPA's OPS (online-product-submittal) tool.