The Energy Department on Feb. 3 announced new efficiency standards for external power supplies. Over the next 30 years, these standards will help save the equivalent of the annual electricity use of 6.5 million homes—and save families and businesses nearly $4 billion on their energy bills.
External power supplies are used in hundreds of types of electronics and consumer products, including cell phones, tablets, laptops, video game consoles and power tools, to convert power from a wall outlet into lower voltages. More than 300 million external power supplies are shipped in the United States each year, and the average American home has five to ten. These numbers are expected to continue growing as consumers and businesses purchase new types of personal electronics.
