New TV test method underpins world-leading European energy policy

(CLASP, 8 Nov 2019) On October 1st, the European Commission adopted the most stringent energy performance standards in the world for TVs, computer monitors and other electronic displays, along with labeling requirements for other products. The new rules are a major policy advance under the EU’s Ecodesign Directive, realized in part through years of sustained engagement by technical experts and advocates for strong efficiency policy.

Taking effect in two stages in 2021 and 2023, the new regulation for electronic displays is expected to avoid 39 TWh of electricity and 13 Mt CO2-equivalent annually by 2030.

At the heart of the revised policy for TVs and other electronic displays is an update to the test method that has been used to assess those products for more than a decade. “Europe’s forthcoming TV testing methodology is critical because accurate performance data is the foundation on which effective appliance policy is built,” said Eric Gibbs, CLASP’s Chief Policy and Analysis Officer, of the update. “Elements of the new test method have already been adopted in limited settings internationally, and once European regulators fully implement the new methodology it will set off a global shift toward a more accurate accounting of the energy and carbon footprint of this product class.”

External link

CLASP, 8 Nov 2019: New TV test method underpins world-leading European energy policy