New EuP Efficiency Standards Roll Off the Ecodesign Directive Assembly Line

August 28, 2009 - The number of EuP Ecodesign Directive energy efficiency standards expanded to nine late last month when four new ones were published in the European Union’s Official Journal. The new standards address energy waste in televisions, household refrigerators and freezers, water circulators (used in boilers and heating systems), and industrial motors. (Once fully implemented, by 2020, the four new Ecodesign regulations will save the equivalent of the power consumed by Sweden and Austria!) Effective dates for the new regulations are shown below:

The motor standard regulates motors having 2 to 6 poles and rated output between 0.75 kW and 375 kW, mandating minimum efficiency levels based on output power and number of poles. The circulator standard mandates a minimum energy efficiency index (EEI), calculated using the volume flow rate of water, the hydraulic power, and the head (in meters) produced by the circulator. The refrigerator standard also uses an EEI approach, taking into account the different styles of refrigerators and freezers and the number of compartment types available.

Moving to more familiar “Mr. Green” efficiency spec territory, the television standard sets both maximum on-mode and standby power consumption limits. The methodology for calculating the maximum on-mode power consumption is similar to the current ENERGY STAR TV spec, based on screen size and resolution, while remaining technology neutral. The maximum on-mode power consumption is calculated as follows:

The standby power consumption aligns with the previously published EuP standby standard (Lot 6), dictating that a TV, regardless of screen size, resolution and technology, can’t consume more than 1 W (tier 1 – 2010) and 0.5 W (tier 2 – 2012) while in standby.

But there are some new twists to this TV standard. For example, a minimum peak luminance “on-mode as delivered” or “home mode” test condition has been added, and can’t be less than 65% of the peak luminance of the brightest on-mode condition, thus preventing manufacturers from reducing the brightness of the picture (and therefore the power consumed) to meet the specs. There is also a mandatory auto-power down which puts the TV in standby mode after four hours of user inactivity.

And an interesting spec addition at tier 2, off-mode (a condition in which the TV is connected to the mains but is not providing any function, including reactivation from a remote control), mandates power consumption to be ≤ 0.3 W unless the unit has “an easily visible switch, which puts the television in a condition with power consumption not exceeding 0.01 W when operated in the off position.” If that condition exists, the power consumption of any other off-mode condition of the TV shall not exceed 0.5 W.

That’s an interesting addition, but how many off-mode conditions does a TV have?

For more information on the EC Ecodesign Directive for EuPs and copies of the nine efficiency standards adopted so far, go to:
http://www.powerint.com/en/green-room/agencies/ec-eup-eco-directive