Appliance energy efficiency standards inform consumers about the relative energy efficiency of appliances they are considering purchasing.
Standards in Australia
In Australia, energy labelling standards are in place for the following items:
- Refrigerator and freezers
- Clothes washers
- Clothes dryers
- Dishwashers
- Room air conditioners (single phase)
- Packaged air conditioners (three phase)
- Electric water heaters
- Three phase electric motors (note that some of these standards are AS only)
- Fluorescent lamp ballasts
- Fluorescent lamps
- Distribution transformers
- Commercial refrigeration
However, the following items currently do not have any energy labelling standards set yet:
- external power supplies (planned for 1 October 2008)
- Set top boxes (planned for 1 October 2008)
- Televisions
- Home entertainment products such as audio and video equipment(planned for 1 October 2008)
- Boiling and chilled water dispensers
- Vending machines
- Commercial icemakers
- A range of lamp types
- Personal computers
- Video game consoles
It is worth noting that some large screen plasma TVs consume more electricity that a fridge while in use, and consumers have no easy way of knowing this when they buy them.
Standards in Canada
Improved appliance energy efficient standards (and building energy efficiency standards) have been successfully introduced in Canada to reduce both energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Canada has recently improved its EnerGuide standards for heating and cooling, water heating, gas and electric appliances, lighting and windows.
Consumers in Canada also use the Energy Star symbol and ratings to determine the efficiency of TVs, VCRs, DVDs and audio equipment and buy energy efficient audio visual products.
External links
- ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
