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Energy Efficient Products

Should the standby consumption still include the consumption of the display?

If an appliance has an integrated display indicating time, but the display and related clock is not activated by default when the product is placed on the market, should the standby consumption still include the consumption of the display?

The product should comply with the requirements on power consumption of equipment with information or status display, which is a continuous function providing information, including clocks, as specified in definition Article 2(4).

The standard EN 50564 on measurement of low power modes provides, in clause 5.2 Preparation of product, says that:

“The product shall be prepared and set up in accordance with the instructions for use”.

“The product modes tested should be consumer relevant and representative of expected normal use. Where instructions for use provide configuration options, each relevant option should be separately tested.”

Thus, the measurement test does not refer to testing only a specific configuration (in which the product happens to be placed on the market by the producer). Instead all the relevant product modes and configuration options expected to be employed by the final users, as could also be documented in the user manuals, are to be tested.

Furthermore, according to the provisions of Regulation (EU) 1275/2008, for each of the product modes specified above the power management function should switch the product into standby or off mode, as applicable, after a period of inactivity in which the product is not providing its main function(s). In these cases the Ecodesign requirements for standby and off mode shall apply.

Disclaimer: Please note that the European Commission cannot provide a legally binding interpretation of the EU legislation, as this is the sole competence of the European Court of Justice. Any remarks from the European Commission services are without prejudice to the position the Commission might take should related cases arise in a procedure before the Court of Justice.