UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCYWASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
OFFICE OF
AIR AND RADIATION

July 19, 2010
Dear External Power Supply (EPS) and End-Use Products Using EPSs Stakeholders:
The purpose of this letter is to inform stakeholders of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision
to sunset the ENERGY STAR® programs for EPSs and End-Use Products Using EPSs. As proposed in the May
2010 communication, these two ENERGY STAR programs will be sunset effective on December 31, 2010.
EPA wishes to thank stakeholders who submitted comments on EPA’s sunset proposal. Each comment wasconsidered carefully and will be reflected in the Stakeholder Comment-EPA Response Summary, which will beposted to the ENERGY STAR Web site shortly. While EPA appreciates the interest expressed by somestakeholders in preserving their ability to continue to take advantage of the ENERGY STAR label, the stakeholder
feedback was relatively limited and did not provide compelling information contradicting the rationale to sunset. As
noted in the May 26, 2010 letter, the following factors contributed to EPA's decision to sunset: 1) relatively highENERGY STAR market penetration; 2) existing U.S. federal minimum efficiency standards for EPSs; 3)diminishing scope of the End-Use Products Using EPSs program because of new ENERGY STAR productspecifications, such as small network equipment; and 4) ability to maintain and add EPS requirements to theexisting suite of ENERGY STAR product categories.
Of note, it is EPA’s intention that current ENERGY STAR product specifications with requirements for the use ofan ENERGY STAR EPS (e.g., computers, displays, televisions) will be changed to require a Level V EPS as
designated under the International Efficiency Marking Protocol, which is consistent with ENERGY STAR Version
2.0 EPS performance levels. Information about the Protocol will continue to be available at www.energystar.gov.
For applicable product categories, these changes will occur as part of the specification revision process
associated with enhanced testing and verification requirements. Also, EPA is exploring potential changes to theENERGY STAR Battery Charging Systems (BCS) specification to broaden eligibility to certain product categories
currently covered by the End-Use Products Using EPSs program (e.g., cell phones).
Important dates and actions for EPA and stakeholders leading up to December 31, 2010 are provided below.
Key Dates:
July 26, 2010
July 31, 2010December 31, 2010

Key Actions:• No new Partnership Agreements for EPSs and End-Use Products Using EPSs will be
accepted by EPA as of July 26, 2010.
• No new qualifying product information will be accepted by EPA as of July 31, 2010.
• EPA will continue to recognize EPSs, End-Use Products Using EPSs and their
manufacturers at www.energystar.gov until December 31, 2010.
• Manufacturers must stop using the ENERGY STAR name and ENERGY STAR markor EPS graphic in association with all products manufactured on or after December
31, 2010. (Qualified products manufactured before that date are allowed to carry theENERGY STAR mark or EPS graphic on their packaging and product literature, asapplicable. Retailers and distributors will be allowed to sell off their existing inventory.)• No new promotional materials for EPSs and End-Use Products Using EPSs (printedand electronic) featuring the ENERGY STAR mark or EPS graphic may be produced
after December 31, 2010. (Manufacturers are allowed to use up existing printedmaterial, including packaging, in order to minimize waste.)• To minimize the cost of labeling changes and be in compliance by December 31,
2010, manufacturers of EPSs and End-Use Products Using EPSs may remove
ENERGY STAR references on websites or in other collateral materials as thesematerials are reprinted or changed in the coming months.

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Partners who have any questions or want to discuss their plans to discontinue labeling are encouraged to write toexternalpoweradapters@energystar.gov.
In closing, EPA appreciates the efforts of EPS and End-Use Products Using EPSs partners to advance a cleaner
environment through the ENERGY STAR program. The sunset of these programs recognizes partners’ success inmoving the EPS market towards greater and sustainable energy efficiency. Thank you.
Best regards,Ann Bailey, Chief
ENERGY STAR Labeling Branch
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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