Proposed mandatory energy conservation standards for high- tech p...

Proposed mandatory energy conservation standards for high- tech products are based on “incomplete data” and could increase nation’s energy consumption, CEA told Dept. of Energy (DoE). CEA filed comments in response to Nov. 6 public meeting at which agency proposed about 15 new products, including computers, monitors, set-top boxes and TVs, to be included in DoE’s energy conservation program guidelines for appliances. Dept. proposed “one quad cutoff” for new product consideration and released list of products for which cumulative energy savings was reported to exceed one quadrillion BTUs. Energy consumption standards “would force manufacturers to substantially alter product designs, which would adversely affect the performance and features of those products,” CEA said: “A product that can achieve the ‘best available’ energy efficiency may be a ‘de-featured’ product, meaning a product that possesses the fewest possible features. Such products are likely to have very limited market appeal and a very low sales volume.” For example, mandatory energy standard may make it impossible for manufactures to incorporate DVD player into set-top box, it said. Instead, consumers would be forced to purchase 2 devices and increase overall energy consumption, CEA said. The proposed standards “are as onerous to manufacturers as the energy bill pending in Congress,” said Douglas Johnson, CEA dir.-Technology Policy, referring to HR-4 by House Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) passed by House Aug. 2 and on Senate calendar since Sept. 4 (CED Nov 6 p4). That bill would direct DoE to limit household appliances in standby mode to power consumption of 1 w. CEA said DoE data sheets released at public meeting on potential energy savings of set-top boxes were based on “best available” efficiency of 1 w in standby mode. However, “nowhere in the background material does DoE indicate that a one- watt standby set-top box is available” and document said 1 w standby feasibility was “unclear.” “It is crucial that DoE use real-world feasibility when calculating a product category’s energy savings potential,” CEA said. For TVs, monitors and desktop PCs, much of predicted energy savings assume transition to LCD technology. While LCD technology offers “significant energy saving” compared with CTRs, DoE should take other factors into consideration, CEA said. EPA study said LCD screens used much less energy in operation but required more energy to manufacture, CEA said. It said new standards for computers, monitors, set-top boxes and TVs were “unnecessary” because federal EnergyStar program, jointly administrated by DoE and EPA, currently covered those product categories. EnergyStar program has been successful in promoting energy efficiency of electronics because it “has focused exclusively on standby power or other low-power states” and has avoided most of serious complications associated with reducing “active mode” energy consumption “that can jeopardize technological innovation,” CEA said.