U.S. Energy Star Office Equipment and IT Product Standards: Details and Certification Operations Under the DOE Transfer

ENERGY STAR's product-specific specifications for office equipment and IT products are among the most important environmental labels in the United States, rating the energy efficiency of electronic equipment consumed in large volumes in offices and data centers. Major product categories—including computers (Computers v8.0), displays (Displays v9.0), enterprise servers (Servers v4.0), and large copiers and printers (Imaging Equipment v3.2)—are subject to strict limits on power consumption during active use and sleep/standby modes, as well as requirements for power management (automatic transition to low-power states).

Under federal procurement rules (FAR Subpart 23.7), federal agencies are required, in principle, to ensure that 100% of the IT equipment they purchase carries ENERGY STAR certification, and the mark is also incorporated as a foundational requirement for EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) star ratings. The program was established by EPA in 1992 and has long been jointly administered by EPA and DOE, but since June 2026 administration has been transferring to DOE. While the standard-setting and certification process itself remains unchanged, the point of contact and administrative structure are expected to shift to being DOE-led going forward.