Schneider Electric has announced that select Back-UPS and Smart-UPS (uninterruptible power supply) models have become the first-ever UPSs to earn the ENERGY STAR qualification under the federal program’s new UPS category. Acknowledged for meeting standardized energy efficiency requirements and passing the program’s testing, the selected Smart-UPS and Back-UPS products have been recognized for their abilities to both save customers money while helping to protect the environment.

“Schneider Electric has committed to lead in the industry in energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.” said Laurent Vernerey, executive vice president of Schneider Electric’s IT Business. “Customers rely on APC by Schneider Electric’s UPSs to provide safe, dependable protection from downtime and hardware damage. Earning the ENERGY STAR mark for our products solidifies our ability to operate at high efficiency without sacrificing reliability.”

Jointly established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE), the ENERGY STAR program is aimed at reducing pollutants caused by the inefficient use of energy, while also making it easy for consumers to identify and purchase energy efficient products. Companies inducted into the program exemplify a commitment to developing offerings which empower customers to capitalize on the operational and financial benefits inherent in energy management.

In addition to delivering significant overall savings and providing critical, reliable functions within small to medium businesses and homes, the Schneider Electric Smart-UPS and Back-UPS were qualified by an independent laboratory on the following criteria to become marked as ENERGY STAR:

• Efficiency: UPS products considered must achieve operational efficiency in the top 25 percent of the market, thus allowing customers to realize lower electrical operating costs and a smaller carbon footprint;

• Performance Tested: All UPS products are subject to the EPA’s ENERGY STAR test procedure, under the supervision of a third-party certification body; and,

• Published Results: UPS products must achieve specific test results, including efficiencies at 25, 50, 75, and 100 percent loads, as well as no load losses and other characteristics which are published on the EPA's web site, http://www.epa.gov/.

“We are pleased to extend the ENERGY STAR certification to energy efficient UPS products as part of our effort to promote efficiency in data centers,” said Robert Meyers, data center product manager, ENERGY STAR. “As data center equipment becomes more environmentally friendly, we’re thrilled to include this new product category, as well as further promote the ability of companies across industries to make informed, transparent decisions around purchasing energy-conscious equipment.”

 Furthering its commitment to making the choice for energy efficient equipment simple and clear, Schneider Electric also plans to pursue ENERGY STAR certification for additional UPS products over the next year.