Energy Star Requirements Updated by EPA
As part of more than 20 revisions for product requirements that are expected to come into effect throughout the rest of 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed updates for its Energy Star requirements. The new standards are designed to improve efficiency and will affect the production of new televisions, cable boxes and satellite equipment that seeks to obtain permission to use an Energy Star label.
The requirement changes are made possible in part due to a very positive response among consumers in the marketplace to the original Energy Star program, as well as consistent consumer demand for new products and continued support from retailers for the initiative. According to the EPA, sales of Energy Star rated televisions are estimated to comprise nearly 70 percent of the total market in 2011 and more than 19 million large screen televisions are expected to ship this year. If this trend continues as expected, the new requirements could lead to significant carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reductions, as well as increased energy savings for homeowners.
Under the new Energy Star label, a 60-inch television is required to use less than 108 watts, while a conventional model would use more than 280 watts. Cable boxes and satellite equipment will be required by the EPA to enter a deep sleep mode when not in use that will reduce energy consumption from 16 watts to less than 2 watts.
A EPA-approved third party will be responsible for certifying products for the new Energy Star label, and manufacturers will also be required to take part in additional testing programs as needed to receive verification of passing. If all televisions, cable boxes and satellite equipment was designed to meet the new EPA requirements, consumers could save more than $5 billion US annually in energy costs and could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount that would equal the removal of more than 7 million cars from the roadways.
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