Energy-efficient information and communication technologies in Europe

In the Office Equipment electricity end-use sector, the benefits of a perfect power management were demonstrated about 10 years ago. Nowadays, the Energy Star USEPA label announced in June 1992 is, de facto, the international standard. As a consequence, recently purchased office equipment, taking into account its typical 50 % conservation potential is expected to be twice more energy-efficient than the machines supplied in the late 80s or early 90s. However, a major obstacle, the large gap between market availability and users's standard practices, has not yet allowed to achieve that result. A better understanding of the obstacles involved, based on a monitoring campaign, funded by EC-DGXVII (PACE programme), was started in 1995 in 3 EU countries (Denmark, France and Portugal). Among many aims, the main purpose of the campaign was to obtain a realistic view of the present situation in various office activities, assessing both impediments and possible solutions. Preliminary results from sectors such as banks, universities, army headquarters, including metered energy data and analysis of user's behaviour are given in the present paper. Moreover, savings measured with available Energy Star compliant devices, are calculated and compared to previous estimates. Power quality, an increasingly concern for both building and electric utilities managers is also briefly discussed. Finally, recommendations are made aiming to improve, in such a continuously growing key market, the dissemination of energy-efficient technologies. A global issue, namely the reduction of CO2 emissions, is underlined as one of the most promising ways in such direction.