The European Commission (EC) today (April 6th) adopted regulations that will limit the power usage of equipment utilised to convert mains power into lower voltage for things like laptops and mobile phones.

Altering the units – which will take place in two stages (in 2010 and 2011) – will save an estimated nine terawatt-hours of electricity per year.

This equates roughly to the annual consumption of Lithuania and will make a major difference to the performance of external power supplies, explained Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.

“Setting ambitious energy performance requirements for products is an important contribution to improving Europe’s energy efficiency,” he said.

An additional environmental benefit of the move will be the annual saving of more than three million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

The EC also recently announced it would phase out inefficient light bulbs in a bid to cut costs and reduce pollution.

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