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Energy Star to have standards for gaming consoles photo

If you've purchased a computer in the last fifteen years, you've probably seen the Energy Star logo at one point or another. They're an international standard for energy-efficient consumer products, including televisions, appliances, even light bulbs. Now, for the first time, they're turning their conservationist eye on game consoles.

Console manufacturers who want to slap the Energy Star logo on their products are going to have to keep a few things in mind during the design process. Power consumption needs to be at a pretty low level when the system is off or on standby. Also, consoles will be required to power down automatically after an hour of inactivity. If the system has DVD or Blu-Ray playback capability, there is an additional series of standards (applying to set-top boxes) which will have to be met.

On the plus side, products which meet the Energy Star standard are really good for electrical bills. Most major appliances bearing the seal of approval consume 20-30% less power than comparable units which lack it. Other electronic devices can save as much as 90%. 

The new standards go into effect in July of 2010, which is about when I'd expect to start seeing new consoles gearing up. I do wonder how much difference it would make in the consumer's eyes whether or not a console had the Energy Star logo on it or not. I know that if it came down to choosing a system to buy, I'm not really looking to find out how energy-efficient it is, but it would be a nice touch.

[Via Kotaku]








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Conrad Zimmerman is Destructoid's News Editor and home to the busiest mustache in the gaming press. An amateur historian and pop culture fanatic, Conrad possesses a nearly limitless wealth of videogame factoids and a passion for the power of games to teach, inspire and entertain. He enjoys reading, writing and turning things which should be fun into work. Likes Mega Man 2, Arcade Games, Books about games, Board games, Having cultural interests that aren't games Meet the rest of the team



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9 comments | showing # 1 to 9
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Phantom Spaceman's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2008 08:51
Phantom Spaceman
"I like trees too, wanna get outta here?"
Druid 01's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2008 09:01
Druid 01
i really don't want my console turning off after an hour of inactivity, i remember leaving RE on all night to avoid wasting ink ribbons lol
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2008 09:04
Holyetheline
Hm. I really don't care how efficient my console is. I pay my own bills too.
Jesus H Christ's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2008 09:06
Jesus H Christ
On a completely unrelated note, sometimes Monroe piercings just don't work.
BlackSheep's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2008 10:09
BlackSheep
but i prefer having the equivalent of 10 refrigerators when me and my roommates all wanna play online in our own rooms.
falinter's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2008 11:11
falinter
I am glad they are beginning to do this.

Maybe I can stop unplugging my consoles when not in use.
mix's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2008 14:01
mix
As long a nothing on the system is changed, I'm all for saving the enviroment!
rel123's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2008 15:28
rel123
I don't really know how I feel about this. Limiting power usage is the fastest way to bog down any gaming experience.
Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/15/2008 17:50
Darren Nakamura
That girl is kind of cute, for a tree-hugging hippie.
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