Samsung Televisions manual Mandatory Programs

MEPS − Televisions April 2005

The European Association of Consumer Electronics Manufacturers (EACEM) established a voluntary agreement in 1997 with the European Commission to target standby losses of TVs. EACEM has now merged its activities with the European Information & Communications Technology Industry Association and is now known as the European Information, Communications and Consumer Electronics Technology Industry Associations (EICTA). The updated agreement covers CRT based televisions, non CRT based televisions and DVD’s and now addresses on mode consumption in addition to standby. The aim is to reduce standby power consumption to a maximum of 1W by 2007. The agreement also aims for a minimum of 5% improvement in energy efficiency by 2007.

The energy efficiency index is a formula which takes into consideration numerous factors such as on mode consumption, standby consumption and screen size/format/type. The European Commission also funds a pan-European database of energy efficient appliances called HomeSpeed. The EC have also developed an Eco-Label (“Flower”) that applies to more environmentally friendly products and services.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has a “One Watt Initiative” energy saving program to cut world-wide electricity losses from appliances in stand-by, launched in 1999. This aims to encourage equipment manufacturers towards consuming no more than one watt when the equipment is in standby mode. The Australian Government has endorsed the one watt standby target for appliances sold in Australia. New Zealand has yet to formally endorse targets.

8.2Mandatory Programs

So far no mandatory programs set minimum standards for TV energy efficiency although China is planning the introduction of a labelling and MEPS program within the next year. The Japanese Top Runner program, is based around target standard values for energy consumption efficiency in accordance with the Energy Conservation Law, and is obligatory for manufacturers to adhere to them to enhance the energy consumption efficiency of their products on a weighted average basis. In contrast to other overseas jurisdictions however, Japanese standards do not exclude from the market equipment that fails to satisfy the standards. It will be important to ensure that a New Zealand or Australasian MEPS scheme is compatible with other such schemes, with a larger manufacturing or consumer base.

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A study produced for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority by

Wise Analysis Ltd