Dept. of Energy (DOE) will publish preliminary standby- power pro...

or below 1 w where available. DoE, in consultation with General Services Administration, Defense Logistics Agency and others, was ordered to develop list of products that complied with requirement. List includes computer and office, video, audio, telecom and other products. Manufacturers will continue to submit self- certified data on standby power levels of products, DoE said. Agency is required to revise list annually but said it would update it regularly with new voluntary manufacturer data when received. Publication Mon. of procedures was not unexpected, as agency faced end-of- year deadline, but language on Web site emphasizing 1 w was surprise, said Doug Johnson, CEA dir.-Technology Policy. Decision orders agencies to use 1 w standby as purchasing preference when available, but only where cost effective, he said. If such products aren’t available, order directs agencies to buy those with lowest standby power wattage while in their standby power consuming mode and “acknowledged that a blanket 1 w requirement wasn’t good policy,” he said. Many products on DoE list have standby power levels much higher than 1 w. For example, recommended personal computers, category also covered by Energy Star program, have standby power levels of 15-30 w. “Even in standby mode these products have functions that are relevant, functions that likely are relevant to the govt. agencies that purchase these products,” Johnson said. List, guidelines and instructions on submitting product data can be found on DoE Web site: http://www.eren.doe.gov/femp/procurement.