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EU figures

Picking the best ENERGY STAR equipment really matters for the environment. Office equipment accounts for a significant —and rising— share of total electricity consumption.

For the residential sector, the European Climate Change Programme forecasts a rise from 1 Mt (1990) to 29 Mt (2010 baseline) in annual greenhouse gas emissions from the use of EU-15 office equipment. This will be caused by a rise in annual EU electricity consumption from 2 TWh (1990) to 64 TWh (2010 baseline). This increase is enough to wipe out most of the (successful) efforts since 1990 to make appliances (fridges, washing machines, etc.) and lighting (CFL's) more energy efficient!! Please note, that these figures are valid for the EU-15. The enlarged EU-25 will see a lower current penetration, but probably a higher growth rate for office equipment.

By 2010, office equipment (excluding consumer electronics) will make up some 8.9% of the electricity bill of the average EU household. At a rate of € 0.10/kWh , average electricity expenditure per EU household on residential office equipment will be over € 40/yr. Total annual electricity expenditure for EU-15 citizens for home office equipment will be close to € 7-8 billion (€ 7000-8000 million) .

Office equipment is by far the fastest riser on (at least) the residential electricity bill, but it is also the group of products with the highest saving potential.
The energy-saving potential of office equipment with appropriate policies and measures is over 50%. The ECCP indicates that electricity consumption could drop to 31 TWh/yr., resulting in CO2-eq. emissions of 14 Mt/yr. respectively. Total annual electricity expenditure for EU-15 citizens for home office equipment could drop to € 4 billion (€ 4000 million).

Graph: Electricity Consumption, Residential Sector, Baseline 2010, EU-15 (in%)