If it's energy-efficient computing gear you're after, look no further than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star certification program. Updated in July 2007 for the first time in 15 years, the new Energy Star guidelines take a tougher stance on the energy use of desktop and notebook PCs, game consoles, integrated computer systems, desktop-derived servers, and workstations. To qualify for Energy Star's seal of approval, systems must meet certain consumption requirements while idle and during operation, as well as tap into an internal power supply that converts at least 80 percent of incoming electricity for use by the PC. (Multicore CPU and high-end graphics processors get a bit more leeway, however.)
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