Proposed Standard

Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan's) Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE), is proposing to amend Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations (the Regulations) to prescribe certain products that use Standby Power as energy-using products, and to establish minimum energy performance standards for them.

In particular, the amendment will affect the following products: 1) Compact Audio Products, (2) Televisions, (3) Video Playing/Recording Products, (4) Computer Printers, and (5) Multifunction Devices. The Regulations apply to products imported or shipped inter-provincially for sale or lease in Canada. This amendment is included in Canada’s Clean Air Regulatory Agenda and the accompanying Notice of Intent as published in the Canada Gazette on October 21, 2006.

Mode	Product Type	Tier 1 Limits (2009)	Tier 2 Limits (2011)
Standby Mode	Compact Audio Products	2 Watts	1 Watt
Standby Mode	Televisions	4 Watts	1 Watt
Standby Mode	Video Products	3 Watts	1 Watt
Standby Mode	Printers (Small and Standard Size format)	2 Watts	1 Watt
Standby Mode	Multi-Function Devices	4 Watts	2 Watts

There are various definitions of Standby Power. However, for the purposes of this document, Standby Power is the lowest level of electricity consumed by appliances, which cannot be switched off (influenced) by the user, and may persist for an indefinite time when an appliance is connected the main electricity supply. In 1997, the

International Energy Agency (IEA) introduced the “1 Watt Plan”, which proposed that all countries harmonize to reduce standby power in all equipment to less than one watt by 2010. On July, 2005 at the Gleneagles Summit in Scotland, the G8 countries signed an endorsement to, among other things, “promote the application of the IEA’s 1 Watt Initiative”.

On July 23rd, 2007, the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, announced that Canada will put in place standards to limit the amount of power consumed by products in standby mode. In 2007, NRCan commissioned a study to measure the standby power consumption of appliances on the shelves of several Canadian retail stores. A subsequent market analysis of this data, along with an economic and environment impact study will be used to verify the viability of introducing regulations to specific products that consume standby power.

The State of California currently has an Appliance Efficiency Regulation which includes Standby Power limits for three consumer audio and video equipment categories (Compact Audio Products, Televisions, and DVD Players and Recorders), and several other states plan to follow the California regulations for Standby Power limits. Canada is proposing an initial standard, effective in 2009, that will meet the current California limits for these products. The standard for these products will be strengthened to a 1W target in 2011.

Studies indicate that computer printers and multifunction devices also have a potential for high standby power savings. Thus, Canada is again proposing a two staged implementation, with an eventual standard that is equivalent to the current ENERGY STAR criteria for these products, to be effective in 2011.

NRCan is proposing that the Tier 1 energy efficiency performance standards for standby power as set out in the table above, will apply to products manufactured after June 1st, 2009. The effective date for the Tier 2 standards in Table 1 will be applied to products manufactured after June 1st, 2011. The effective date of the proposed regulations is expected to be the date of registration of the amendment to the Regulations as published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, which is expected to be in fourth quarter of 2009. This means that the energy performance test procedure, the energy performance standards and all other regulated requirements for the regulated products