Energy efficiency products: office and communication technology equipment, labelling programme Energy Star

PURPOSE : to establish a Community voluntary labelling energy programme (the 'Energy Star' Programme) for information and communication technology (ICT) equipment product groups. CONTENT : This programme will contribute to the Community's objective of reducing CO2 emissions, and will result in large economic savings for ICT equipment users. It offers consumers a tool to contribute to a more sustainable use of energy resources and facilitates international trade for this type of equipment. The scope of the proposed Regulation is to implement the draft Agreement between the United States of America and the European Community and introduce the Energy Star logo as a marking. The draft Regulation: - describes the rules for its use and prohibits its misuse - establishes the general rules and procedures for the Community Energy Star voluntary labelling programme, aimed in particular at ensuing the efficiency and transparency of the Energy Star technical specifications revision process; - ensures Member States participation in the process of revisions of the technical specifications and product group list; - attributes the task of establishing Energy Star technical requirements to a technically competent organisation, the European Union Energy Star Board (EUESB), which would act on mandate from the Commission; - ensures complementarity between the Community scheme and other national energy labelling schemes in the EU - Will stimulate the purchase of efficient equipment by public procurement requiring equipment, which meets the specifications. All expenditure will be borne by the SAVE Programme. The Commission will review the Programme within five years of the entry into force of the Regulation.�