Computer ownership and Internet use among Americans has reached an all-time high. Yet energy prices continue to rise in many parts of the country. The combination led to a new and increasingly popular set of energy-efficiency standards to help computer users find the most energy-efficient products on the market.

In 2003, 70 million American households, or 62 per­cent, had one or more computers, up from 56 percent in 2001, according to data from the last U.S. Census. In 1984, the proportion of households with a com­puter was 8 percent.

The latest Harris Poll showed the number of adults who connect to the Internet at home, in the office, at school or other venues has increased 10 percent in the past year, reaching an estimated 178 million.

Rating systems

Launched in January 2007, the Green Electronics Council’s Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) is a set of guidelines that promote not only energy-efficiency, but a variety of additional social and environmental factors associated with the manufacturing and recycling of electronics.

The council has awarded 14 Gold ratings to products that meet its energy conservation criteria. Pushed by consumers and businesses who are faced with rising energy costs and are increasingly concerned about global climate change, Toshiba, Dell and Hewlett-Packard are leading the pack.

Since the start of 2007, the online EPEAT database of registered products has grown rapidly to include over 500 products. In its first six months, the tool helped save 13.7 billion kilowatt hours of electricity over a four-year product lifetime, reduced carbon emissions by 1 million metric tons, and kept 41,000 metric tons of hazardous waste from entering landfills, according to a June 17, 2007 U.S. Green Electronics Council report.

The nonprofit, which received $375,000 in seed money from EPA, bases products’ scores on their reduction/elimination of environmentally sensitive materials, materials selection, end-use design, durability, reduction of energy use, packaging, and the social and environmental performance of the manufacturer.

Launched in July 2007, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star for Computers program recognizes desktops, laptops, game consoles, servers and other technologies that meet its energy efficiency standards.

Recognizing that many users leave their computers in standby or sleep mode when they step away from their desk, products that qualify for the Energy Star label must meet energy use guidelines in all three modes of operation: standby, sleep mode, and while being used. Computers must also include a more efficient internal power supply.

The EPA expects the specifications will save consumers and businesses more than $1.8 billion in energy costs over the next five years and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual emissions of 2.7 million vehicles.

Federal purchasing

As the world's largest volume-buyer of energy-related products, the government can significantly reduce energy consumption by purchasing energy-efficient products. Plus, save taxpayers a lot of money: Federal agencies spend at least $10 billion per year on purchases of energy-using products, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Purchasers of electronics for the federal government are required by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to purchase products that are Energy-Star Qualified.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy division’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) provides energy-efficiency guidelines for 50 types of products. While geared toward purchasers at federal agencies, the information is useful for consumers at any organization. It includes user tips, buyer tips and where to find all products on the list, including computers, monitors and printers.

President Bush in January 2007 ordered all federal agencies to purchase only products that are rated by the Green Electronics Council’s EPEAT.