What is Energy Star?
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Energy Star is a program developed by the US government to help businesses and individuals improve energy efficiency in everyday electrical products. It is a voluntary standard that partners with businesses to provide more energy efficient products. After meeting strict guidelines established by the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy, the product is then certified as an Energy Star product. Energy Star status is displayed using the logo to the left, which signifies that the product has met the Energy Star guidelines. |
Criteria used to qualify products as Energy Star
Active Mode:
Active mode is defined as when the power supply’s input is connected to line voltage ac and its
output is connected to a dc or ac load drawing a portion of the product’s power output. Depending on the power rating for the power supply, it must meet the minimum
efficiency criteria outlined below.
Energy-Efficiency Criteria for Active Mode:
Output Power (P no ) |
Minimum Average Efficiency |
| 0 to ≤ 1 watt |
≥ 0.49 * P no |
> 1 to ≤ 49 watts |
≥ [0.09 * Ln (P no )] + 0.49 |
> 49 watts |
≥ 0.84 |
Table taken from information on the Energy Star Web Site
No-Load Mode:
The power supply must also meet a requirement for when its input is connected to a line voltage ac
but its output is not connected to a load. Depending on the power output of the supply, it must keep its energy consumption below the following values.
Energy Consumption Criteria for No Load Mode:
Output Power (Pno) |
Maximum Power in No-Load |
| 0 to < 10 watts |
≤ 0.5 watts |
≥ 10 to ≤ 250 watts |
≤ 0.75 watts |
Table taken from information on the Energy Star Web Site
The product must meet both the Active and No Load mode requirements in order to qualify for Energy Star.
If these guidelines are met, the power supply is also qualfied under the California Energy Commission's new guidelines for external power supplies(CEC), which are effective January 1, 2007.
How is CUI involved with Energy Star?
CUI became an Energy Star partner in July 2005.
As of July 2006, CUI has qualified five switching power supply series ranging from 6W to 60W. CUI is working to qualify more of its external power supplies as Energy Star products.
For more information on each of CUI's Energy Star qualified power supply series, click here.
CUI's Energy Star power supplies are also available at Digi-key. For more information regarding CUI's Digi-key offering, please click here.
