Federal agencies are required to purchase energy-consuming products with a standby power level of 1 watt or less, when compliant models are available on the market. The requirement reflects recognition that many commonly used electronic devices draw considerable power when not being used.
To assist federal buyers in complying with this low standby power product requirement, the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) has identified priority product categories, which include products that consume relatively large amounts of energy and are prevalent in the federal sector.
For all other product categories, buyers should request a statement of standby power consumption from the vendor. If a standby power level of 1 watt or less is not currently available, buyers should purchase a product with the lowest possible standby power in the product category. Find out how standby power is measured.
This acquisition guidance was updated in December 2024.
How To Find and Comply with FEMP Low Standby Power Requirements
The requirement to purchase low standby power products complements the requirement to purchase energy efficient products that are ENERGY STAR®-certified.
Check Table 1 to see which requirements apply to each priority product type.
Table 1. Guidance for Complying with Low Standby Power Requirements
| PRIORITY PRODUCT CATEGORIES | HOW TO COMPLY |
|---|---|
Computers
Telephones
| Purchase products that are on FEMP's Low Standby Power Product List and that are ENERGY STAR-certified. |
Audio/Video Equipment Telephones
| Purchase products on FEMP's Low Standby Power Product List. |
Computers
Displays Imaging Equipment Televisions Telephones
| Purchase products that are ENERGY STAR-certified. |
How To Determine Cost Effectiveness
An efficient product is cost effective when the lifetime energy savings exceed the up-front cost premium (if any) compared to a less efficient option. You can find more information about determining life cycle cost effectiveness on our general guidance page.
See Table 2 below for an example comparing the life cycle cost savings of base models (higher standby power than the FEMP 1 W requirement), models meeting the FEMP 1 W requirement and models with the lowest available standby power.
Example: Desktop Computers
FEMP has calculated the energy savings for low standby power desktop computers based on a purchase of 100 units. A 100-unit purchase of ENERGY STAR-certified computers just meeting FEMP’s 1 W standby power requirement saves money if it costs no more than $384 (in 2023 dollars) above the 100-unit purchase of less efficient models with higher standby power of 8 W. A purchase of 100 best available models shown below is cost effective if it costs no more than $489 above a 100-unit purchase of less efficient models (or $105 above a 100-unit purchase of the models with the required standby power).
Table 2. Lifetime Savings for Standby Power Consumption of 100 Desktop Computers
| MODEL EFFICIENCY LEVEL | BEST AVAILABLE | FEMP REQUIRED STANDBY POWER | LESS EFFICIENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standby Power (W) | 0.1 | 1.0 | 8.0 |
| Annual Energy Use (kWh/year) | 250 | 526 | 1537 |
| Annual Energy Cost | $27 | $58 | $169 |
| Lifetime Energy Cost | $95 | $200 | $584 |
| Lifetime Energy Cost Savings | $489 | $384 | ====== |
Energy Use and Cost Assumptions
Standby Power: Based on reported off mode values from the ENERGY STAR Qualified Products List (QPL) as of December 2024 and other market data collected by ENERGY STAR. All values were for the commonly found I2 (integrated or switchable graphics) category.
Annual Energy Use: Calculated based on reported sleep mode off mode values from the ENERGY STAR Qualified Products List (QPL) as of December 2024 and other market data collected by ENERGY STAR. All values were for the commonly found I2 (integrated or switchable graphics) category. Annual Energy Cost: Calculated based on an energy price of 11¢/kWh, which is the average electricity price at federal facilities in the United States as of December 2024. Learn more about Federal Government Energy/Water Use and Emissions data.
Lifetime Energy Cost: Calculated using a product life of 4 years, in alignment with ENERGY STAR savings calculations. Used future electricity price trends and a 3% discount rate are from Energy Price Indices and Discount Factors for Life-Cycle Cost Analysis – 2024: Annual Supplement to NIST Handbook 135 and NBS Special Publication 709 (NISTIR 85-3273-39).
Lifetime Energy Cost Savings: The difference between the lifetime energy cost of the identified models.
Model Efficiency Level
Best Available: Based on the model with the lowest standby power consumption in the ENERGY STAR Qualified Products List as of December 2024. More efficient models may have entered the market after FEMP's acquisition guidance was created.
FEMP Required Standby Power: Based on the FEMP required standby power limit of 1 W. Federal agencies must purchase products that meet or exceed FEMP standby power requirements.
Less Efficient: Based on the model with the highest standby power from market data collected by ENERGY STAR. Note energy savings will vary depending on actual usage.
How To Buy Compliant Products
Buyers can make sure the product they purchase will be compliant by incorporating federal acquisition regulation language into contracts. Compliant products can also be found using federal supply sources and product codes. See our general guidance page for more details on buying compliant energy-using products.