California Energy Commission Appliance Efficiency Regulations

CEC

Countries:
US - State of California only
Type: Mandatory Efficiency Standard
Links: CEC Appliance Efficiency Regulations Rulemaking page

CEC Home Page

On December 15, 2004, the California Energy Commission adopted new mandatory efficiency requirements for external power supplies and consumer audio and video equipment sold in California. The specification includes active-on efficiency requirements, as well as maximum standby and no-load levels.

PRODUCT
External Power Supplies

Standards for Power Supplies

NOTE: On July 1, 2008, the US Energy Independence and Security Act 2007 replaced all US state external power supply standards, including the California standards shown in the table below.

Effective January 1 2007 for external power supplies used with laptop computers, mobile phones, printers, print servers, scanners, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and digital cameras.

Effective July 1, 2007 for external power supplies used with wireline telephones and all other applications.

Nameplate Output (W) Minimum Efficiency in Active Mode*
0 to < 1 Watt 0.49 * Nameplate Output
≥ 1 and ≤ 49 Watts 0.09 * Ln(Nameplate Output) + 0.49
> 49 Watts and ≤ 250 0.84
Maximum No-Load Energy Consumption
0 to < 10 Watts 0.5 Watts
≥ 10 to < 250 Watts 0.75 Watts
*Ln (Nameplate output) = Natural Logarithm of the nameplate output expressed in Watts

Effective July 1, 2008

Nameplate Output (W) Minimum Efficiency in Active Mode*
< 1 Watt 0.5 * Nameplate Output
≥ 1 and ≤ 51 Watts 0.09 * Ln(Nameplate Output) + 0.5
> 51 Watts 0.85
Maximum No-Load Energy Consumption
Any Output 0.5 Watts
*Ln (Nameplate output) = Natural Logarithm of the nameplate output expressed in Watts
Compact Audio Products

Effective Jan 1, 2007
2 W in audio standby passive mode for those w/o permanently illuminated clock display, 4 W for those with

Televisions

The CEC is proposing a revision to its TV efficiency standard, with a proposed Tier 1 effective date of January 1, 2011.

Effective date Screen Size
(area A in
square inches)
Maximum TV
Standby-passive
Mode Power
Usage (watts)
Maximum On
Mode Power
Usage (P in watts)
Minimum
Power Factor
for (P ≥ 100W)
January 1, 2006All3 WNo standardNo standard
January 1, 2011*A ≤ 14001 WP ≤ 0.20 × A + 320.9
January 1, 2013A ≤ 14001 WP ≤ 0.12 × A + 250.9
Source: California Energy Commission

In addition, TVs manufactured and sold in California on or after the Tier 1 date must meet the following CEC requirements:

  • Automatically enter a standby (passive or active) mode after a maximum of 15 minutes without video and/or audio input on the selected input mode
  • Enter a standby-passive mode when turned off by remote or integrated button or switch
  • Have a peak luminance in “home” mode, or in the default mode as shipped, of ≥ 65% of the peak luminance of the “retail” mode, or the brightest selectable preset mode

DVD Players/Recorders

Effective Jan 1, 2006
3 W in video standby passive mode