Energy efficient household appliances
This article originally appeared in the May 2007 issue of IEC e-tech.
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Energy Star. Energy Rating. Energy Label. Around the world we are seeing an increase in regulations that require certain electrical appliances such as domestic refrigerating appliances, air conditioners, dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers to be given labels for their energy usage and energy efficiency.
Many countries have also introduced mandatory minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for some types of appliances. The aim of MEPS is to require manufacturers to improve the energy efficiency of their appliance designs. MEPS also have the effect of removing from the market appliances with low energy efficiency.
The introduction of MEPS regulations sometimes follows the introduction of energy labelling regulations. However, some products, where the consumer often is not the purchaser and so energy is not taken into account, has MEPS applied alone. Examples are motors, external power supplies, transformers, water heaters, commercial refrigeration appliances, lamps and ballasts.
But the energy efficiency/usage label layout is not yet harmonized internationally and so different regions have their own label designs.
Energy efficiency ratings sound like a good idea at first, but they must be taken in the context of functionality. What good is a tumble dryer that is rated as very energy efficient but that doesn’t dry your clothes properly? Government regulators could easily require that energy efficiency ratings be based on standardized ways to assess functional performance and standardized ways to measure energy use. Otherwise, the data on energy labels could be meaningless.
IEC to the rescue
Along with its subcommittees, IEC Technical Committee 59, Performance of household and similar electrical appliances, prepares exactly these standardized methods for assessing functional performance and for measuring energy usage needed for this performance. Examples include:
The IEC regularly ensures that its standards remain up to date and so upcoming work for TC 59 includes a new international standard for refrigerating equipment, new performance indicators for cooking ranges, specification of a new reference machine for dishwashers, and taking into account the fundamental differences between horizontal axis and vertical axis clothes washers.
As for the different labelling systems for the energy efficiency of household appliances, why have a variety of them? Why not have a single, global method for labelling, one that is elaborated by the IEC? The question might ultimately be pushed by the market itself.
Source: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).