Brussels, 29/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed on Thursday 29 October to introduce new, stricter specifications for display monitors as part of the EnergyStar transatlantic programme for energy efficiency. The new criteria, which take effect today, should allow savings to be made in electricity over the next five years (life cycle of products) and, as a result, further purchases over the next three years. Savings would be by way of 9 terawatts/hr for the EU alone, i.e. the annual electricity consumption of all households in Bulgaria. The EnergyStar programme will soon be completed by new criteria for other categories of office equipment. The new technical specifications for displays/screens, and for monitors in particular, are jointly developed by the EU member states, the EPA and parties interested worldwide. For further details on the EnergyStar programme see: http://www.eu-energystar.org (E.H./transl.jl)