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EPEAT Tightens Up Green IT Certification Requirements

<p>The Green Electronics Council this week announced that it is removing from its registry of green computer products all those that don't meet the U.S. EPA's Energy Star newest criteria.</p>

The Green Electronics Council, the group that administers the EPEAT green IT certification, announced this week that it was tightening the stringency of its requirements by removing all products that do not meet updated energy-efficiency standards.

All products that have not been certified to the Energy 5.0 specifications will no longer qualify for EPEAT certification, which includes energy efficiency, recyclability, and reduction of toxic materials as elements of its certification.

"This change to the standard ensures that every product on the EPEAT registry is at the cutting edge of environmental design and performance," Jeff Omelchuck, EPEAT's Executive Director, said in a statement. "Our manufacturer subscribers have shown great initiative in meeting newer Energy Star specifications quickly, and this standard revision reflects stakeholders' confidence in such environmental innovation continuing among EPEAT Subscribers."

In addition to removing non-complying products from the EPEAT registry, the Green Electronics Council has also removed a "grace period" that allowed products a six-month window to meet new Energy Star specifications. Rather than giving manufacturers six months to get up to speed on changes to Energy Star, in order to remain EPEAT-certified, products must meet new standards on the day they go into effect.

The latest Energy Star computer certifications, version 5.0, were finalized on November 14, 2008, and went into effect on July 1, 2009. The eight-month window for manufacturers to bring their products into compliance with the EPA will now also be required for EPEAT-certified products.

This news comes as the EPEAT certification has grown rapidly -- in August 2009, the certification expanded internationally, including 39 countries beyond the United States. In June of last year, the Green Electronics Council added televisions, printers and copiers to the types of electronics it would begin certifying, and in February, the U.S. government required EPEAT purchases for all branches of the government.

Full details about the certification, as well as a list of certified products and manufacturers, is online at EPEAT.net.

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