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What is ENERGY STAR and Why Does it Matter for HP Devices?
Anyone who's shopped for a new computer or related tech has most likely seen the ENERGY STAR® logo attached to certain products. But what does it mean in 2025, and how has it evolved alongside HP's comprehensive sustainability initiatives?
Put simply, ENERGY STAR was designed as a way to make it easier for every consumer to shop for environmentally-friendly products. Products that earn the ENERGY STAR rating or certification are held to a higher standard of energy use and emissions, providing measurable gains for users. Today, it's part of a broader ecosystem of sustainability certifications that guide conscious purchasing decisions.
What is ENERGY STAR?
The original ENERGY STAR system focused on reducing the carbon footprint of PCs and related office equipment when it launched in 1992. Today, it covers everything from kitchen appliances to office buildings, remaining one of the most recognized environmental certifications worldwide. The initiative is overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.
But what does ENERGY STAR mean for consumers with HP devices in 2025? We'll cover that in detail in this guide to explain how ENERGY STAR, alongside other sustainability initiatives, minimizes operating expenses and environmental impact for home and business users.
Lower Operating Expenses
The advantages of ENERGY STAR are immediately visible in your monthly bill. When your computer uses less energy, you'll see cost savings through reduced energy bills compared to non-certified alternatives. This makes the ENERGY STAR certification a crucial guide for budget-conscious shopping.
These products aren't just created to save energy—they're built to perform at the highest levels while consuming less power. Whether you're buying a new laptop, desktop, or printer, ENERGY STAR-certified hardware ensures you'll continue saving money throughout the device's lifetime.
According to recent ENERGY STAR data, certified products have helped Americans save over $500 billion in energy costs since the program's inception. With energy prices continuing to rise in 2025, these savings are more important than ever for households and businesses managing tight budgets.
Improved Sustainability and Climate Action
The environmental advantages of ENERGY STAR have become even more critical as climate change concerns intensify. In 2025, sustainability isn't just about energy efficiency—it's about comprehensive environmental stewardship across the entire product lifecycle.
ENERGY STAR certified products help reduce your carbon footprint by using less energy, which means fewer greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. This certification works alongside other initiatives to create measurable environmental benefits. Recent data shows ENERGY STAR products prevent billions of pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually, equivalent to the emissions from millions of vehicles.
HP's Comprehensive Sustainability Approach
HP has evolved far beyond simple ENERGY STAR compliance, developing a holistic approach to sustainability that addresses three core pillars: Human Rights, Digital Equality, and Climate Action.
Human Rights Initiatives
HP's commitment to people includes:
- Culture of Inclusion: Equity and inclusion programs that address workforce barriers
- Social Justice: Establishing gender and racial equity to foster diverse thinking
- Empowered Workers: Solutions that increase worker knowledge and skills globally
Digital Equality Programs
HP leverages technology to bridge the digital divide:
- Education: Partnerships advancing education for communities worldwide
- Economic Opportunities: Technology-related learning programs expanding digital literacy
- Healthcare: PC and printing solutions addressing healthcare sector challenges
Climate Action Leadership
HP's environmental achievements include:
- Energy Efficiency: Personal systems energy consumption dropped 16% on average
- Recycled Content: Used 32,200 tons of post-consumer recycled plastic in products (2022)
- Zero Waste Goals: Striving for zero waste in operations by 2025
The World's Most Sustainable PC Portfolio
HP has achieved remarkable milestones in creating the world's most sustainable PC portfolio:
- 100% of PCs and displays registered in 2022/23 achieved EPEAT® U.S. Gold
- 100% of PCs and displays launched in 2022/23 contained recycled materials
- 100% of business notebooks shipped in fiber cushions since 2022
These achievements demonstrate how sustainability has become integral to product design rather than an afterthought.
Shopping for Sustainable HP Products
The HP Store offers an extensive selection of energy-efficient products with ENERGY STAR certification and beyond. Let's look at three standout products that exemplify HP's commitment to sustainability:
Product Feature: Victus by HP Gaming Laptop
Gaming and sustainability aren't mutually exclusive, as demonstrated by the Victus Gaming Laptop. This powerful machine proves you can enjoy high-performance gaming while minimizing environmental impact.
Sustainability Features:
- EPEAT® Gold with Climate+ certification
- ENERGY STAR® certified
- Ocean-bound plastic in speaker enclosures and bezel
- Keyboard keycaps and scissors contain post-consumer recycled plastic
Performance Specifications:
- AMD Ryzen™ 5 8645HS processor (up to 5.0 GHz)
- NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2050 Laptop GPU
- 8GB DDR5-5600 memory
- 512GB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD
- 15.6-inch display with multiple color options
- Advanced thermal design for sustained performance
The Victus laptop demonstrates that gamers don't need to compromise on performance to make environmentally conscious choices. Its sophisticated design, available in multiple colors, looks good anywhere while delivering the power needed for modern gaming.
Product Feature: HP OmniDesk Desktop
The HP OmniDesk Desktop represents the perfect balance of everyday computing power and environmental responsibility. This versatile desktop handles all your daily tasks while setting new standards for sustainable design.
Sustainability Achievements:
- EPEAT® Gold with Climate+ rating
- ENERGY STAR® certified
- 65% post-consumer recycled plastic
- 20% recycled metal construction
- 180W 80 Plus Gold certified power supply for maximum efficiency
Key Specifications:
- Intel® Core™ i5-14400 processor (10 cores, up to 4.7 GHz)
- 16GB DDR5-4800 memory for smooth multitasking
- 512GB PCIe® Gen4 NVMe™ M.2 SSD
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth® 5.4 connectivity
- Comprehensive port selection including USB-C
The modern design in meteor silver or jack black seamlessly integrates into any space while the DDR5 memory ensures fast boot times and effortless multitasking. This desktop proves that sustainable computing doesn't mean sacrificing performance or aesthetics.
Product Feature: HP ENVY Inspire 7955e All-in-One Printer
The HP ENVY Inspire 7955e revolutionizes home printing with advanced features and exceptional sustainability credentials. This all-in-one printer handles everything from office documents to high-quality photos while minimizing environmental impact.
Environmental Features:
- Made from over 45% recycled plastic
- HP+ Smart Printing System for optimized ink usage
- Compatible with HP Instant Ink for reduced waste
- Supports HP's forest protection initiatives
Capabilities:
- Print, copy, scan with automatic document feeder
- Two-sided printing to reduce paper usage
- Built-in photo tray for various print sizes
- True-to-phone quality photo printing
- 3 months of free Instant Ink with HP+ activation
For every page printed, HP protects, restores, and manages forests, ensuring your printing needs don't come at the expense of our planet's forests.
When Did ENERGY STAR Start?
ENERGY STAR was founded in 1992 to manage the environmental impact of the growing personal computer sector. Since then, it has expanded to cover a vast range of consumer products, with over 7 billion ENERGY STAR certified products purchased by 2025.
The program's evolution mirrors the tech industry's growing environmental awareness. What began as a simple energy efficiency label has become part of a comprehensive sustainability ecosystem that includes EPEAT ratings, recycled content requirements, and circular economy principles.
HP's Sustained Excellence in Sustainability
HP's commitment to sustainability extends far beyond minimum requirements. Since 2018, HP has been recognized multiple times as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year, with special recognition for Sustained Excellence in the Product Brand Owner category.
This consistency reflects HP's holistic approach to sustainability, addressing environmental impact at every stage of product development. Even as software demands increase, HP has reduced PC energy consumption significantly while improving performance.
Beyond ENERGY STAR: HP's Broader Sustainability Initiatives
Closed-Loop Recycling
HP's closed-loop recycling keeps manufactured plastics in the supply chain and out of landfills or waterways. The company is on track to increase recycled content in products to 30% by 2025, with many products already exceeding this target.
Ocean-Bound Plastics
HP pioneered the use of ocean-bound plastics in technology products, preventing plastic waste from reaching our oceans. This initiative now spans multiple product lines, from laptops to printers.
Design for Sustainability Program
HP's Design for Sustainability program continues hitting new milestones:
- HP Device as a Service reduces GHG emissions by 25%
- HP Managed Print Services reduce emissions by 12%
- HP Instant Ink program reduces GHG emissions by 73%
Printers Designed with the Planet in Mind
Select HP printers achieve EPEAT® Gold registration and ENERGY STAR certification while incorporating:
- End-to-end circularity in design
- Enhanced durability to extend product life
- Innovation focused on waste reduction
- Forest protection for every page printed
What is EPEAT?
EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool), managed by the Green Electronics Council, uses a three-tier rating system: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each level meets increasingly stringent environmental criteria, with Gold-rated products representing the pinnacle of sustainable design.
HP leads the industry with the world's most sustainable PC portfolio based on EPEAT standards. The addition of Climate+ designation to EPEAT Gold products indicates even higher environmental performance, addressing climate change impacts throughout the product lifecycle.
Notes About HP ENERGY STAR Software
ENERGY STAR certified PCs include software that manages power settings for optimal efficiency. This software ensures your device operates at its certified efficiency levels while maintaining performance. We recommend keeping this software installed to maximize both energy savings and system performance.
The software works seamlessly with Windows 11's power management features, including modern standby and intelligent battery management, ensuring your device uses minimal power when idle while remaining instantly responsive when needed.
The Future of Sustainable Computing
As we move through 2025, sustainability has evolved from a nice-to-have feature to an essential consideration for technology purchases. HP's comprehensive approach, combining ENERGY STAR certification, EPEAT Gold ratings, recycled materials, and innovative programs like HP+, demonstrates that environmental responsibility and cutting-edge technology go hand in hand.
Summary
ENERGY STAR products provide guaranteed energy efficiency and lower operating costs throughout the device's lifetime. For HP users in 2025, this certification is just the beginning of a comprehensive sustainability story that includes recycled materials, closed-loop recycling, forest protection, and social responsibility initiatives.
Whether you're shopping for a gaming laptop, family desktop, or home printer, HP's sustainable technology portfolio ensures you can meet your computing needs while contributing to a better future for people and the planet. The combination of ENERGY STAR certification, EPEAT ratings, and HP's broader sustainability initiatives means every purchase supports both your immediate needs and long-term environmental goals.
About the Author: Dwight Pavlovic is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Dwight is a music and technology writer based out of West Virginia.
