Finding the most energy efficient TV in China and in Europe: not such an easy job…

Panel: 6. Appliances, product policy and ICT

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Anette Michel, Topten International
Hu Bo, Top10 China, China
Sophie Attali, SOWAT/Guide Topten, France
Eric Bush, Topten International Services, Switzerland

Abstract

Judging from the declared On-mode power found on Topten China (www.top10.cn) and Topten Europe (www.topten.eu), the most energy efficient TVs on the European market seem to be far more efficient than those on the Chinese market. Topten wanted to find out whether this finding is a fact or whether different measurement protocols and methods caused the difference.

An international testing project was launched: 3 testing institutes, CVC and NIM from China and VDE from Germany, each tested the most efficient 46-inch-TV from Topten China and from Topten Europe according to the relevant measurement procedures and the Chinese and the European Energy labels. The TV models selected for the test were the A++-Philips 46PFL6806K (Europe) and the Hisense LED46K200 (China). The results were used to verify the values declared by the manufacturers and to check the products’ compliance with relevant minimum requirements.

The results show that the On-mode power consumption of the European TV model is indeed considerably lower than that of the Chinese model. Whether this makes the European model a more energy efficient TV than the Chinese model however depends on the perspective: while according to the EU Energy Label the European TV model is more energy efficient than the Chinese model, on the Chinese Energy Label the latter reaches a better grade than the EU-TV. The reason is to be found in the different definitions of TV energy efficiency: the EU Energy Label defines TV efficiency as a low power input for a given screen size, while in China the most energy efficient TVs are those with the highest brightness for a given power input.

This testing project provides detail insights of strengths and weaknesses, especially on the ambiguity, of the different measurement standards, which can be used to conclude on specific improvements. The results show that the definition of efficiency and the specificities of measurement methods obviously have a very strong influence on product design.