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Monitors

Last Updated: 03/15/23 Click to see brand name products that meet these requirementsopens in new window
Monitors

An electronic device, typically with a diagonal screen size greater than12 inches and a pixel density greater than 5,000 pixels per square inch (pixels/in2), that displays a computer's user interface and open programs, allowing the user to interact with the computer, typically using a keyboard and mouse.

Product Details
  • asterisk Federal agencies are required by statute to purchase products as designated or specified under this program.
    asterisk asterisk Federal agencies are required to purchase sustainable products and services meeting EPA’s Recommendations to the maximum extent practicable.
Procurement Info

Where to Buy

Life Cycle Cost Savings

Life Cycle Costing (LCC) aims to quantify the financial impact of a product over its entire life cycle to assist consumers in making decisions that will save them money over the long term.

For most applications, energy-efficient computer monitors have the lowest life-cycle cost. For example, FEMP has estimated that a typical federal agency purchasing 100 Energy Star-qualified monitors with power management enabled could save $7,100 in energy costs over the life of the monitors, compared to less efficient units. Note that much of the savings comes from proper use of power management features: FEMP has estimated that purchasing the same 100 monitors without enabling power management features could save the agency $1,700. Additionally, EPA has estimated that 100 Energy Star-qualified monitors could avoid 2,185 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

An efficient product is cost effective when the energy costs saved over the life of the product exceed the additional upfront cost (if any) of the more efficient model. Energy Star considers both upfront costs and lifetime energy cost savings when setting required efficiency levels. Federal purchasers may assume that Energy Star-qualified products and products meeting FEMP-designated efficiency requirements are life-cycle cost effective.

To calculate life cycle cost savings, explore these tools:

  • On its Purchasing & Procurement page, Energy Star offers MS-Excel-based calculators to estimate how much money and energy you can save purchasing ENERGY STAR monitors.
  • For EPEAT-registered products, the Green Electronics Council offers a benefits calculator to quantify the environmental and financial benefits compared to standard products.
  • For life cycling costing on specific brand-name products, visit SFTool Product Search by clicking the green box at the top of this page. Once you have created an account, add a product to a project and open the project. The tool displays energy cost savings, adjusting for local utility rates, operating conditions, and the purchase price.
  • NREL’s Levelized Cost of Energy Calculator can help estimate the cost of electricity as an input for your lifecycle cost calculations, accounting for both cost escalation and discount rates.
Guiding Principles
Contributes to meeting The Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings
Additional Guidance

The 2015 Federal Electronic Asset Take-Back Guidanceopens in new window addresses the inclusion of provisions in contracts or leases for manufacturer or reseller take-back of used electronic assets.

Federal Programs

The final Energy Star v7.0 and v7.1 specifications for computer monitors and signage displays took effect on July 1, 2016 . There are several key changes to note. The specification includes computer monitors; monitors with keyboard, video, and mouse (KVM) switch functionality; and monitors with plug-in modules. The revised definition of "signage displays" differentiates these products from "computer monitors". The specification excludes products with an integrated television tuner; displays such as electronic readers or battery-powered digital picture frames; and products that must meet Food and Drug Administration specifications for medical devices that prohibit power management capabilities and/or do not have a power state meeting the definition of Sleep Mode. Additionally, v7.1 removed products called "Keyboard-Mouse-Monitor/ Keyboard-Video-Mouse" from the scope. Also note that the energy usage requirements for monitors is set as total energy consumption to address both active use and sleep modes

The ENERGY STAR Most Efficientopens in new window program identifies the most efficient products among those that qualify for the ENERGY STAR in particular product categories. Product categories were selected and recognition criteria were established to ensure that products that receive this recognition demonstrate efficiency performance that is truly exceptional, inspirational, or leading edge. There are Most Efficient criteria for monitors under 20 inches, 20 to 23 inches, and 23 inches or larger.

Included products: Computer monitors, defined as an electronic display intended for one person to view in a desk based environment. Signage displays as defined by the ENERGY STAR Version 7.0 specification are not eligible for ENERGY STAR Most Efficient recognition in 2017.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Recommended Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels

Executive Order (EO) 14057, Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainabilityopens in new window, (08 DEC 2021), requires federal agencies to purchase sustainable products and services certified to the standards/ecolabels included in the Recommendations to the maximum extent practicable.

Potential LEED Contributions

This product may contribute* toward points in multiple LEED v4 rating systems, including areas required for LEED v4 building certification. It will mainly enable calculations for energy simulations and plug load calculations demonstrating energy use improvements over baseline estimates. Primarily, the credits will apply in the Building Design and Construction (BD+C) and Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M) categories. This includes the specialty areas of: New Construction and Major Renovation, Existing Buildings, Core & Shell, Schools, Retail, Data Centers, Warehouse and Distribution Centers, Hospitality, and Healthcare. Specific credits are:

  • Energy & Atmosphere - Optimize Energy Performance

* It is important to note that no products, individually or collectively, can guarantee a specific number of points for LEED Category credit. Each credit will need to be matched to the product by a certified professional.

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