Energy Efficiency Regulations Bulletin on Developing an EnerGuide Label for Televisions March 22th, 2010 Purpose of this Document The purpose of this document is to provide background information on the proposed Amendment to the Energy Efficiency Regulations (the Regulations) regarding the labelling of televisions (TVs). This will allow stakeholders to submit comments prior to pre-publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I sometime in 2011. This bulletin attempts to put the proposed Amendment in plain language. Depending on comments received, follow-up bulletins may be issued. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is particularly looking for feedback on the content of the proposed EnerGuide label, including the introduction of annual energy costs, in addition to the traditional annual energy consumption and the proposed scales of screen size to be compared on the label. Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) is proposing to amend the Regulations to add a labelling requirement for TV’s. The Regulations apply to products imported or shipped inter-provincially for sale or lease in Canada. Dealers of energy using products that are imported or shipped inter-provincially for sale or lease in Canada would be required to comply with a labelling requirement and other regulatory requirements. Background The Energy Efficiency Regulations, which came into effect in February 1995, are administered by NRCan and reference energy performance test procedures that must be used to test the products to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the Regulations. In Canada, electricity costs of operating TVs account for a rising portion of household electricity consumption. The number of hours a television is watched, and the size and number of televisions per household have been steadily increasing over the last decade. The energy consumption of televisions varies widely. The ENERGY STAR® program has already contributed to the transformation of the market place by encouraging consumers to look for the ENERGY STAR symbol that identifies the most energy efficient products. EnerGuide labelling could go further by showing the average cost of the energy consumption of each product which would encourage consumers to make sound purchasing decisions on a comparative basis. Part of NRCan’s mandate is to inform consumers about energy consumption of energy- using equipment. TVs are good candidates for such a label because of their increasing share of the household energy budget. Product Description For the purposes of the Regulations, NRCan is proposing to define Televisions as follows: 1/7 Definition of Televisions: A commercially available electronic product designed primarily for the reception and display of audiovisual signals received from terrestrial, cable, satellite, Internet Protocol TV (IPTV), or other digital or analog sources. A TV may consist of a tuner/receiver and a display encased in a single enclosure. The product usually relies upon a cathode-ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display, or other display technology. Included: Televisions with computer capability but marketed and sold to consumers primarily as televisions. Not included: Front projectors. Energy Performance Test Procedure CAN / CSA – 62301 is the standard used to test for off mode and standby mode only. California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Sections 1602 and 1604 (Definitions and Test Method) is the standard used to test for on mode. Format of the label NRCan is proposing to use Canada’s EnerGuide label. Recent amendments to the Energy Efficiency Act have expanded the authority to prescribe information related to energy use that is important for consumers; this could include annual operating cost. NRCan believes that consumers, when purchasing televisions, will respond better to yearly operating costs than kWh. The KWh amount is being kept on the EnerGuide label but is less prominent. 2/7 Assumptions When calculating the average annual operating costs dollar amount and the number of KWh used every year to put on the EnerGuide label of each of their TV models, the following assumptions will be made: - The label costs and energy consumption assumes that the TV will be used as a primary TV. NRCan acknowledges that in subsequent years, the TV set might be moved to another room, be used as a secondary TV, be turned on less often and therefore use less energy. The label is meant to give an indication of annual consumption and costs in the first years of use. - The label is meant to give an idea of the cost of use and KWH used, and by no means gives an exact amount. This is expressed in the caveat statement: ‘’ Based on a utility rate of 10 ¢ per kWh and 5 hours of viewing per day. Your consumption may vary’’. - The label will compare TVs of the same screen size. When decimals are involved, TVs will be considered of the same screen size. For example, 52” and 52.04” will be grouped 3/7 under 52”. Scales will be provided to manufacturers by NRCan. NRCan is seeking feedback from stakeholders on the opportunity to group into one scale the less popular screen sizes, provided the screen size remains close. For example, anything below 15’’would be grouped together. 18, 19 and 20’’ could be also considered together. At the other end of the spectrum, anything between 60’’ and 69’’ would be together, 70’’ to 79’’ together, and so on. This would be in order to avoid a proliferation of scales. Calculations Annual Energy Consumption (AEC) AEC = Won x hourson + Wstandby x hoursstandby AEC will be expressed to zero decimal places, where: o Won is as measured according to California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Sections 1602 and 1604 o hourson is 1825 hours (5 hours per day x 365 days per year) o Wstandby is as measured according to CAN / CSA 62301 o hoursstandby is 6935 hours (19 hours per day x 365 days per year) o AEC will be expressed to zero decimal places Average Annual Operating Costs Average Annual Operating Costs = AEC x average national energy costs ($.10/kWh) EnerGuide labelling: Form and Manner The EnerGuide labelling is done by attaching a tag in such a manner that the tag is readily visible when the product is viewed from the front. This would allow for the tag to be only one of the following: - an adhesive tag - a flap tag - a hang tag - a non-adhesive tag There are several placement options: - on a display - inserted in a display sleeve - on a shelf talker - on a stand Other options are possible as long as the EnerGuide label remains visible from the font of the television. Details about the form of the EnerGuide label for televisions will be stipulated in a Schedule of the Regulations (font, size, colour, specifications, etc.) 4/7 Effective Dates Labelling effective date NRCan is proposing that the labelling requirement apply to products manufactured on or after July 1st, 2011. Reporting and verification mark requirements effective date The reporting requirement as well as the verification mark requirement will be part of the standby power regulation. Only one reporting will be required, and only one mark will be affixed, addressing both the standby power regulation, and the television EnerGuide labelling regulation. For an exact effective date, refer to the standby power regulation. Reporting requirements Energy Efficiency Reports There is no change to the energy efficiency reporting requirements for televisions from those proposed for the standby regulations. The proposed reporting requirements are: - Product type (i.e. ‘’Television’’) - Manufacturer name - Brand name - Model number - Name of the certification body that carried out the verification and authorized the verification mark that will appear on the product - Screen size (Diagonal in inches, rounded to the closest whole number, and in cm) - Screen resolution in pixels - Type of picture technology (e.g. plasma, C.R.T, etc.) - Presence of a forced menu - Luminance with the product in Home Mode - Luminance with the product in Retail Mode - Native Vertical Resolution - Aspect Ratio - On-mode Power Consumption with product in Home Mode, in Watts - On-mode Power Consumption with product in Retail Mode, in Watts - Average Power consumption in Active mode in Watts - Average Power consumption in Standby mode in Watts (if applicable) - Average Power consumption in Off mode in Watts (if applicable) This report must be submitted, by the dealer, to NRCan before the product is imported into Canada or traded inter-provincially. This report needs to be submitted only once i.e. when first imported or shipped inter-provincially. Energy Efficiency Verification Mark Requirements 5/7 The energy efficiency verification mark will be the same as the one required by the upcoming regulation on standby power. The verification mark is the mark of a Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accredited certification body that administers an energy performance verification program for this product. The mark will be the same as the one required by the upcoming regulation on standby power. For more information about verification mark requirements, consult the website of the Standards Council of Canada at www.scc.ca Import Reports A dealer who imports these products into Canada must include the following information on the customs release document, or electronically: - Name of the Product (ie. Television) - Brand Name of the Product (if any) - Model Number - Address of the dealer - Purpose for which the product is being imported (i.e. for sale or lease in Canada without modification; for sale or lease in Canada after modification to comply with energy efficiency standards; or for use as a component in a product being exported from Canada) Harmonization NRCan attempts, as much as possible, to harmonize with other regulatory agencies. In particular NRCan’s proposal harmonizes with various jurisdictions as follows: - the definition of Televisions is based on the ENERGY STAR technical specification Version 4.0 and 5.0 which is used in the US as well as Canada.