Initiative to further improve TV energy efficiency in N. America announced

Leading Television Manufacturers, NGOs Announce Landmark Initiative to Further Improve TV Energy Efficiency

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, together with leading television manufacturers, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) today announced a landmark voluntary agreement that will significantly improve the energy efficiency of TVs sold in the United States and Canada. The first phase of agreement will result in savings of an estimated 58 TWh once fully realized, with consumers saving more than US $2.4 billion annually and avoiding more than 10 million metric tons of CO2 emissions per year. These savings should further increase under a second phase of the program that the parties committed to develop in the coming year.

The new agreement comes two years after TV manufacturers and organizations formally agreed to develop and promote an updated test method for measuring television energy use.

“This historic agreement is the culmination of two years of hard work and collaboration between technology manufacturers and energy advocates — and it shows how a voluntary, private sector-driven approach can drive energy savings and carbon emissions reduction while protecting innovation and competition,” said Douglas Johnson, vice president of emerging technology policy, CTA. “As a result, TVs will continue to deliver amazing features while consuming less energy, consumers will save money, and the industry will make a significant contribution toward state, provincial and national emissions reduction and climate goals.”

Under the new agreement, commercial signatories Google TV, Hisense, and Sony Electronics Inc., along with NRDC and ACEEE, agreed to:

• Ensure that at least 90% of TV sets manufactured by signatories and sold in the U.S. and Canada by 2026 will have a Standby Mode Power of no more than 2.0 watts;
• Within a year, develop future on-power energy level commitments for TVs sold in Canada and the U.S.;
• Retain an independent auditor to oversee and confirm the accuracy of submitted sales data and the energy-efficiency lab testing of new TVs by independent third parties and produce annual independent reports beginning in 2023.

Additional manufacturers of TVs are expected to join the initiative in the coming weeks.

The credibility of the process is assured through multiple levels of openness and independent verification. NRDC and ACEEE will participate in all phases of the program to provide additional oversight and assure the rigor of the commitments.

“This voluntary agreement will ensure that new TVs sold in the U.S. and Canada will be significantly more energy-efficient, resulting in energy-bill savings for consumers every time they tune in to their favorite show or movie,” said NRDC Staff Attorney Joe Vukovich. “The agreement will also address the issue of standby power, which is a massive energy waster for some TVs, in some cases causing the annual electricity consumption to skyrocket. More efficient TVs are good news for our climate too, as this agreement will result in an annual reduction of carbon emissions equivalent to the tailpipe pollution of about 2.1 million gasoline-powered vehicles.”