Federal agencies are required to purchase energy-consuming products with a standby power level of 1 watt or less, when compliant models are available on the market. To assist federal buyers in complying with this low standby power product requirement, the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) has identified priority product categories, which include products that consume relatively large amounts of energy and are prevalent in the federal sector.

For all other product categories, buyers should request a statement of standby power consumption from the vendor. If a standby power level of 1 watt or less is not currently available, buyers should purchase a product with the lowest possible standby power in the product category. Find out how standby power is measured.

This acquisition guidance was updated in December 2022.

Find Low Standby Power Products in FEMP's Priority Product Categories

The requirement to purchase low standby power products accompanies other laws and requirements related to energy efficiency, including the purchase of Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)-registered and ENERGY STAR-qualified products. For certain products, the purchase of EPEAT-registered or ENERGY STAR-qualified models automatically satisfies the low standby power requirement. However, for other products the requirement is not satisfied due to a variation in product category definitions or the absence of a standby power requirement in the registration or qualification process.

Table 1. Purchasing Priority Products with a Standby Power Level of 1 Watt or Less
How To Comply Purchase products on FEMP's Low Standby Power Product List. Purchase products that are EPEAT-registered and ENERGY STAR-qualified. Purchase products that are ENERGY STAR-qualified.
Priority Product Categories Two-In-One Notebooks, Mobile Workstations, Portable All-In-One Computers, Integrated Thin Clients, Workstation Computers, and Audio/Video Equipment Desktop Computers, Integrated Computers, Notebook Computers, Slates/Tablets, Thin Clients, Computer Displays, Professional Signage, and Imaging Equipment Televisions, Uninterruptible Power Supplies, and Corded Telephones

 

Two-In-One Notebooks, Mobile Workstations, Portable All-In-One Computers, Integrated Thin Clients, Workstation Computers, and Audio/Video Equipment

Purchase products on FEMP's Low Standby Power Product List. The Low Standby Power Product List catalogs products that are ENERGY STAR-qualified and have a standby power less than 1 watt. FEMP updates the Low Standby Power Product List monthly, using ENERGY STAR-qualified product lists. EPEAT requirements for this product category do not include low standby power.

Desktop Computers, Integrated Computers, Notebook Computers, Slates/Tablets, Thin Clients, Computer Displays, Professional Signage, and Imaging Equipment

Only products that are both EPEAT-registered and ENERGY STAR-qualified satisfy the low standby power requirement in this category. EPEAT's registration requirement for most products includes low standby power or ENERGY STAR qualifications; however, there are some EPEAT-registered products that aren't qualified to the current ENERGY STAR standard.

Televisions, Uninterruptible Power Supplies, and Corded Telephones

Purchase ENERGY STAR-qualified products. FEMP has determined that more than 80% of ENERGY STAR-qualified products in this category meet or exceed the 1 watt standby power requirement. These products are not covered by EPEAT. Ensure that the corded telephones and uninterruptible power supplies have standby power consumption of less than 1 watt.

Make a Cost-Effective Purchase: Save $110 or More by Buying ENERGY STAR

FEMP has calculated the energy savings for ENERGY STAR-qualified desktop computers based on a purchase of 100 units. In this case, the required ENERGY STAR-qualified purchase saves money if priced no more than $110 (in 2021 dollars) above the less efficient models. Purchasing high efficiency models, which are ENERGY STAR certified models in the 90th percentile of energy use, saves up to $165 or more. Table 1 compares three types of desktop computer purchases and calculates the lifetime cost savings of purchasing 100 efficient models. Federal purchasers can assume products meeting FEMP-designated efficiency requirements are life cycle cost-effective.

Table 2. Lifetime Savings for Standby Power Consumption of 100 Desktop Computers
Performance Best Available Required Level Less Efficient
Standby Power (W) 0.1 0.4 1.0
Annual Energy Use (kWh/year) 258 438 797
Annual Energy Cost $22 $38 $69
Lifetime Energy Cost $79 $134 $244
Lifetime Cost Savings $165 $110 ======

Performance Column

Standby Power: Based on ENERGY STAR values and typical reported values for power managed computers in sleep and off modes, listed in watts. Typical reported values are from Xergy Consulting's June 2016 report, Determining a Real-World Adjustment Factor for Computer Energy Use: Laboratory Testing the Impact of Real-World Idle, Active Mode and Peripherals (Docket #14-AAER-2 TN211731).

Annual Energy Use: Based on ENERGY STAR values and typical reported values for power managed computers in sleep and off modes, listed in kilowatt-hours. Typical reported values are from Xergy Consulting's June 2016 report, Determining a Real-World Adjustment Factor for Computer Energy Use: Laboratory Testing the Impact of Real-World Idle, Active Mode and Peripherals (Docket #14-AAER-2 TN211731).

Annual Energy Cost: Calculated based on an assumed electricity price of 8.6¢/kWh, which is the average electricity price at federal facilities throughout the United States. Learn more about Federal Government Energy/Water Use and Emissions.

Lifetime Energy Cost: Calculated as the sum of the discounted value of the annual energy cost over the assumed product life of 4 years, from Xergy Consulting's June 2016 report, Determining a Real-World Adjustment Factor for Computer Energy Use: Laboratory Testing the Impact of Real-World Idle, Active Mode and Peripherals (Docket #14-AAER-2 TN211731). Future electricity price trends and a 3% discount rate are from Annual Supplement to NIST Handbook 135 and NBS Special Publication 709, Energy Price Indices and Discount Factors for Life Cycle Cost Analysis – 2022 (NISTIR 85-3273-37 update 1).

Lifetime Cost Savings: The difference between the lifetime energy cost of the less efficient model and the lifetime energy cost of the required FEMP level or best available model.

Best Available Model Column

Calculated based on the December 2022 ENERGY STAR-Qualified Products List; values shown are rounded to the nearest dollar. More efficient models may be introduced to the market after FEMP's acquisition guidance is posted.

Required Level Column

Calculated based on December 2022 ENERGY STAR efficiency levels; values shown are rounded to the nearest dollar. Federal agencies must purchase products that meet or exceed FEMP efficiency levels.

Less Efficient Model Column

Calculated based on typical products used in non-federal applications.

To adjust the cost of standby power consumption in Table 2, multiply the typical lifetime energy cost savings by this ratio:

(Your price in $/kWh) ÷ (8.6¢/kWh)

To adjust the hours a device is consuming power at the standby power level, multiply the typical lifetime energy cost savings by this ratio:

(Your hours) ÷ (5,694 hours)

Determine When Low Standby Power Products Are Cost-Effective

An efficient product is cost-effective when the lifetime energy savings (from avoided energy costs over the life of the product, discounted to present value) exceed the additional up-front cost (if any) compared to a less efficient option. FEMP considers up-front costs and lifetime energy savings when setting required efficiency levels. Federal purchasers can assume products meeting FEMP-designated efficiency requirements are life cycle cost-effective. In high-use applications or when energy rates are above the federal average, purchasers may save more if they specify products that exceed FEMP's efficiency requirements (e.g., the best available model).

Purchasing Requirements

A gavel on top of a stack of papers.

Federal laws and requirements mandate that agencies purchase ENERGY STAR-qualified products or FEMP-designated products in all product categories covered by these programs and in any acquisition actions that are not specifically exempted by law.

These mandatory requirements apply to all forms of procurement, including construction guide and project specifications; renovation, repair, energy service, and operation and maintenance (O&M) contracts; lease agreements; acquisitions made using purchase cards; and solicitations for offers.

FAR Contract Language

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Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 23.206 requires agencies to insert the clause at FAR section 52.223-15 into contracts and solicitations that deliver, acquire, furnish, or specify energy-consuming products for use in federal government facilities. 

To comply with FAR requirements, FEMP recommends that agencies incorporate efficiency requirements into technical specifications, the evaluation criteria of solicitations, and the evaluations of solicitation responses.

 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory provided supporting analysis for this acquisition guidance.