You gotta stay on your toes to remain green in EPA’s eye.

Proof: EPA just tightened energy efficiency requirements for industrial and consumer products that qualify for the federal Energy Star program. Latest power consumption specs are for:

• computer monitors
• TV screens
• digital frame devices, and
• commercial refrigerators and freezers.

The energy savings to be generated by these standards for computer monitors and TV screens should total $1 billion a year. Plus, they’ll help prevent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions equivalent to those released from 1.5 million vehicles. The new Energy Star standards set maximum On Mode, Off Mode and Sleep Mode power consumption requirements for screens and monitors.

For small screens (less than 30 inches), the new Version 5.0 Energy Star Display specs take effect Oct. 30, 2009.

EPA expects a 70% energy reduction for large screens (30″ to 60″). These specs are effective Jan. 30, 2010. Screens larger than 60″ don’t qualify for Energy Star.

The energy star requirements also target the growing market for digital picture frames. EPA says 9.3 million digital frames were shipped in 2008, and demand for these new devices is expected to double by 2015. The Energy Star label signifies that qualifying digital frames are at least 10% more energy efficient than non-qualifying products.

The EPA directive outlining the new monitor standards is here.

There are also new energy efficiency standards for commercial kitchen products, which waste about 80% of energy used to power them. EPA’s new Energy Star specs will make these units 33% more energy efficient than standard models. These new refrigerators and freezers could net energy savings of up to $275 million a year and prevent GHG emissions equivalent to emissions from 400,000 vehicles.

Click here for EPA’s requirements for refrigerators and freezers.

Tags: digital picture frames, energy efficiency, energy star, green products, greenhouse gas