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Environmental Screening and Evaluation of Energy-using Products (EuP) Final Report 8 Standby and off-mode losses of EuPs (Lot 6)
8.1 BackgroundThe intention of looking at standby and off-mode losses is primarily to minimise the power draw on electricity networks occurring when products are not actively used. The relevance of these power consumptions or losses results from the increasing numbers of devices, for which such energy consumptions may occur, and the long duration of power consumption, often invisible to the user. The primary differentiation is between the active mode or modes of a product and all other energy uses (which can then be subdivided into standby and off-mode). The energy consumption not attributed to active mode operation is summarized under the term “standby and off-mode losses”. It is not clear why products being evaluated by product specific lots are separately and extensively discussed in lot 6. EICTA has expressed their concerns over this procedure since their members have mainly provided input to the product specific lots only, as these were seen to be the most relevant for the industry. They wish that it should also be more clearly stated that the products covered in lot 6 study are examples only and the possible outcome will apply to all products in the same category, not just the ones covered by the study. [EICTA2007]. 8.2 Environmental screening based on the Ecoinvent databaseAs there are no data in the Ecoinvent database for this theme, an environmental screening has not been performed for this product group. 8.3 Ecolabel requirementsIt has not been possible to identify relevant Ecolabel criteria for this product group. 8.4 Technology and market trendsNowadays almost all TVs have a remote control and, hence, always have some sort of standby relevant functions. Some new and complex TVs have integrated additional functions like DVD player/ recorder, HD-recorder or digital decoder (set-top-boxes), which create different standby power consumptions. In Europe, most televisions have an off mode (where the unit cannot be activated by a remote control - although the presence of off switches in televisions is no longer universal in these markets) and the power consumption in most cases is at or close to 0.0 Watts. Data collected in late 2005 suggests that 60% of users leave their televisions in off mode or unplugged while 40% are left in passive standby mode [EES2006]. Data collected in USA shows that nearly all televisions in the USA do not have a “off mode”, so passive standby is the only relevant mode for this region [NRDC2005], [ROS1999]. There is a trend towards further additional devices like speakers or AV receivers creating a “TV-based media centre” and towards PCs with all additional devices equipped and used as a “PC-based media centre”. Both can lead to increasing standby levels. Manufacturers in EICTA have agreed that the company sales-weighted average standby losses would be progressively reduced towards 3W by 2009. Models with standby consumption over 10 W were to be phased out. In 2003 already sale-weighted average power consumption of 2.21 W and 3.53 W was achieved for TVs and VCRs respectively. Please refer to chapter 7 for further details. The trend of growing home networks will also lead to requirements for new functions for coming products in terms of additional network interfaces and always-on and keep-alive requirements for products that do not need this functionality today (white goods, sun blinds, curtains, etc.). Please refer to chapter 18 and 19 for further details. For products depending on external power supplies (and chargers), improvements in design provide has provided low cost, high efficiency, off-line switcher solution in the 0 to 10 W range, with as little as 80 mW off-mode loss. Please refer to chapter 9 for further details. 8.5 ConclusionIt is not clear why products being evaluated by product specific lots are separately and extensively discussed also in this horizontal view. This product group is a horizontal group that does not fit into the system approach that the authors find is a more reasonable approach to the environmental impact from EuP. 8.5.1 Environmental perspective from new technologiesThe rapidly growing trend in home networks will lead to requirements for new functions in future products in terms of additional network interfaces and always-on and keep-alive requirements. 8.5.2 RegulationIn the authors view, no separate regulations are required for standby and off-mode losses of EuP, but should be covered by regulatory demands for the specific product group or system. Since this is not likely to be possible, due to the already agreed implementing measures, the authors think that it is important to take future needs for functionality and ease of use in networked civic applications (such as healthcare, ageing, ambient assisted living, entertainment, life-long education, energy efficient buildings, etc) into consideration when implementing EuP requirements on a horizontal group as this.
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