EPA releases most efficient product criteria specs for 2018
September 10, 2017
As stated by Power Integrations? Mr. Green, the proposed eligibility requirements for the 2018 Energy Star Most Efficient program are now available for review.
As stated by Power Integrations’ Mr. Green, the proposed eligibility requirements for the 2018 Energy Star Most Efficient program are now available for review.
The program, now in its 7th year, promotes the most efficient products in fourteen specific product categories. The 2018 program continues the focus on the current twelve product categories and adds a new one (dehumidifiers). It also re-introduces televisions, temporarily removed in 2017.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is maintaining the existing criteria for boilers, ducted and ductless central air conditioners and air source heat pumps, furnaces, geothermal heat pumps (GHP), dishwashers, dryers, refrigerators-freezers, residential windows, and ventilating fans. Tighter program requirements have been issued for ceiling fans, clothes washers, and computer monitors.
For computer monitors, the EPA is tightening current requirements in an effort to further differentiate the most efficient models across popular sizes. For a 24 inch computer monitor with a viewable screen area of 238 in2 and a total native resolution of 2.1 megapixels, the 2018 criteria represents a nearly 5% reduction in annual total energy consumption compared to 2017 requirements.
To qualify as "most efficient," a monitor’s annual total energy consumption (ETEC) must be less than or equal to 2018's maximum allowable total energy consumption (ETEC_MAX). The formulas for calculating ETEC and ETEC_MAX are shown below:
ETEC = 8.76 × (0.35 × PON + 0.65 × PSLEEP)
Where PON = measured on-mode power (W) and PSLEEP = measured sleep-mode power (W).
ETEC_MAX = 1.9 + (0.12 × A) + (3.1 × (r + C))
Where A = viewable screen area (in2), r = total native resolution in megapixels up to 5 megapixels. Products with greater than 5 megapixels total native resolution receive a maximum r of 5 megapixels, and C = 1.9 if A is less than 180 in2, 2.7 if A is equal to or greater than180 in2 and less than 220 in2, and 2.0 if A is equal to or greater than 220 in2.
The new requirements will be finalized in September. Compliant products can use the 2018 Most Efficient logo beginning on January 1, 2018. Copies of the product requirements can be downloaded at the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2018 Criteria webpage.
