The Brussels 17-18 January 2000 International Workshop on Standby Power - Opportunities and challenges, organised by the European Commission and the International Energy Agency underlined the importance of reducing standby energy losses. National initiatives on reducing standby energy consumption are underway in many industrialised countries. An estimated 8-11% of residential energy consumption accounts for standby energy consumption. Energy efficiency and the need to save energy as part of a strategy to reduce CO2 has become an important policy objective for many countries. Private households are the main challenge to reduce energy use. Energy labels can help to reduce standby energy consumption.