::Selina::Standby and Off-Mode Energy Losses In New Appliances Measured in Shops::

The introduction of energy labels and a few Minimum Energy Performance Standards in the EU the last fifteen years, has stimulated the sales of more energy efficient appliances. However there has been a fast increase of electrical and electronic loads which are connected to the AC supply typically all the time. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated that, even with a continuation of all existing appliance policy measures, the appliance electricity consumption will grow by 25% from 2000 to 2020 [IEA, 2003].

Figure 1: Projected IEA residential electricity consumption by end-use with current policies
[IEA, 2003]

As can be seen in Figure 1, the fastest growing electricity demand is projected to be standby/off-mode power consumption. That is the electricity consumption by appliances that are turned “off” or, that are in a low power consumption mode. According to IEA, Europe, by 2030, could be due to standby functionality. This also represents the largest potential saving as efforts to introduce measures to reduce this wasteful consumption are only just beginning (last decade).

It is generally accepted that the demand for information and communication services and technologies will sharply increase. The future power demand will be more influenced by the technical improvements introduced in the equipments by manufacturers, as well as by voluntary agreements and programmes. Electrical and electronic equipment with standby and off-mode losses is a fast growing load (e.g. entertainment, information and communication technologies -ICT, set top boxes-STB). All domestic equipment (including white goods) is likely in the near future to be controlled by electronic equipment, and will have the capability to communicate with other equipment. This situation will lead to an increase in the standby and off-mode electricity consumption.

SELINA builds on previous projects, especially the Ecodesign Study on Stand-By Losses (EuP-Lot 6). The fast evolving technology in this area requires up-to-date information on trends for policy makers (setting standards, projecting future electricity growth, ..)

Objectives

The main objective of this project is the market characterization of the standby and off-mode electricity consumption of new appliances in the market. This information will be collected by measurements in shops, and by gathering manufacturers data, in each low power mode of operation.

The awareness level of retailers in relation to standby and off-mode consumption will be assessed and improved, with the purpose of influencing future criteria for ordering equipment and to provide advice to consumers. A Purchasing Guidelines Leaflet will be produced, including purchasing requirements and advice on purchasing and operating equipment in order to make it easier for households to purchase energy efficient appliances.

A key goal of the proposed actions is to identify effective market transformation policies targeted at all the key stakeholders involved in the manufacture, sales and operation of appliances with standby and off-mode losses. The project will also identify policy recommendations to EU – in line with EuP, European Commission Codes of Conduct and Energy Star activities – as well as provide support to national officials, manufacturers and the experts related to the standby consumption should be a result of the project.

The main strategic objective of the project is the market transformation leading to a very substantial reduction of standby and off-mode consumption:

Increase the share of energy efficient appliances in the market and in the households;
Remove inefficient equipment from the market;
Help in the design of future new policies that enforce limitations on standby and off-mode equipment consumption;
Improve the awareness of retailers in equipment specification;
Influence consumer behaviour in the selection and operation of equipment.

Phases

The main tasks foreseen by this project are:

Definition of the test methodology for measurements in the shops for each type of equipment;
Field measurement and awareness survey in shops and stores of new equipment;
Creation of an online database, with detailed information (consumption in the different modes, main characteristics, labels, etc.) on the models in the market, by country;
Policies for market transformation;
Communication and dissemination;

Expected results

The following aims are to be achieved during the project implementation:

Compilation in a database of information on the standby and off-mode electricity consumption of new equipment in the market (measured in shops).
Compilation in a database of information on the standby and off-mode electricity consumption of new appliances in the market (manufacturers data), in each mode of operation.
In order to make it easier for households and organisations to purchase energy efficient equipments, a Purchasing Guidelines Leaflet, including purchasing requirements and advices on purchasing and operating equipment, will be produced.
Identification of actions and policy instruments, through active international cooperation on products and standards that will reduce the standby and off-mode electricity consumption for each type of equipment. These include energy labelling, minimum energy performance standards, performance visibility and compliance, procurement, and innovation stimulation.

In the long term, the following aims are therefore to be achieved:

Increase of the penetration energy efficient equipment in the residential and tertiary sectors;
Increased awareness of consumers leading to an improvement of the consumer’s behaviour in the selection and operation of the electricity consuming equipment;
Reduction standby and off-mode electricity consumption (the economic potential is about 80 TWh/year by 2020).
Reduction of the carbon emissions (the savings potential is over 30 million tons of CO2 by 2020), contributing to meeting the EU climate commitment and helping to mitigate climate change;
Increase and accelerate the availability of higher energy performance equipment in the market;

Target Groups and Key Actors

The main target groups of this project are

appliances manufacturers and their associations
retailers and their associations
consumers and consumer associations
energy policy makers, energy management companies, energy agencies, etc.

The proposed action is targeted at multiple groups of beneficiaries:

Appliances manufacturers are the main responsible for the availability of low standby energy equipments in the market. Improved design and use of efficient components will increase the energy performance of the equipments.
Retailers are important multipliers because they are responsible for the range of appliances in the market and they can influence significantly the sales, by requiring from manufacturers for specific improved efficiency appliances, pushing up manufacturers to incorporate better components in the appliances.
Retailers are key dissemination information agents due to their ability to reach the main potential users.
Building owners, tenants, construction companies and energy management companies (private owners and public authorities) - Increased awareness of energy efficient solutions in the company or buildings, will support their decision-making process to specify those solutions.
Energy agencies are key dissemination actors behaving either as information multipliers in campaigns and training actions, as well as act as energy consultants or service companies.
Households as well as private institutions (offices, hotels, etc) will be able to use the Purchasing Guidelines developed within the project.
National Governments and the European Commission will receive relevant inputs for their energy-efficiency policies.

The project team will interact with relevant stakeholders, who will be represented in the project Advisory Committee (see “Partners”).