Hewlett-Packard on Monday introduced three business PCs that can be configured to meet the latest government standards for an energy-efficient computer.

The HP Compaq dc5700, dc5750 and dc7700 desktops are available with 80% efficient power supplies, a key component of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star 4.0 specifications. Computer makers meeting the standards, which go into effect July 20, can display the Energy Star logo on compliant machines.

Configuring the PCs with the power supplies and other Energy Star hardware requirements can reduce total system power consumption by as much as 52%, which translates into an average annual cost savings from $6 to $58 per PC, according to HP.

The savings is attributed to less heat generation, which leads to a more reliable system, lower maintenance costs, and decreased air-conditioning costs, HP says.

The HP Compaq dc5700 and dc7700 each feature an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, Microsoft Windows XP Pro, an 80-Gbyte hard drive, 1 Gbyte of memory, and a DVD/CD-RW combo drive. Prices start at $899 and $959, respectively. Both machines are available now in configurations to meet Energy Star standards.

The HP Compaq dc5750 desktop is also available now in an energy-efficient configuration. The machine includes most of the same components, with the exception of an AMD Athlon processor, and 512 Mbytes of memory. The system sells for a starting price of $609.