Press Release: Energy savings: Further Development of International Cooperation on Energy Efficiency of Office Equipment

The European Commission on 28 March 2006 launched the procedure to negotiate a new Agreement on the EU-US ENERGY STAR programme for office equipment with the United States. The programme had first been introduced in 2001 for an initial period of five years and aimed at fostering the energy efficiency of computers, monitors, copiers, printers and fax machines, which are responsible for approx. 5% of the EU’s electricity consumption. ENERGY STAR is part of the Commission’s strategy to improve the efficiency of energy use and to implement a sustainable energy policy in the European Union.