Proposed ENERGY STAR Specifications for Computer Monitors

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Proposed ENERGY STAR Specifications for Computer
Monitors

• Craig W. Hershberg
• ENERGY STAR Office Equipment and Consumer
  Electronics
• www.energystar.gov

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Agenda

• Computer monitor specification
• Objectives
• History
• Specification highlights
• Industry feedback
• Next steps
• Questions from EU - EPA agreement
• Your comments / questions
• Our questions for you

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Agenda (contd)

• Do you need specifics ?
• Sleep, Off , On, Non-energy aspects
• Test method
• The time is right - LCDs

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Agenda (contd)

• Logistics and other issues
• How to collaborate when revising the
  specifications
• Subsequent meetings
• Summary of meeting, including action items and
  schedule for follow-up
• Preliminary plans for other Office Equipment
  Products
• procedure for collaboration

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Objectives

• Provide understanding and disclosure of draft
  monitor specification
• Provide detailed answers to questions
• Receive constructive feedback from you
• Develop consensus on direction identified today
• Agree on next steps

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The history

• What monitor specs. exist in Europe now ?
• GEEA
• TCO
• Reviewed independent monitor research from
  DisplaySearch, IDC, Europeans, and others
• Met with monitor manufacturers at COMDEX, CES,
  DisplaySearch, and one-on-one (HANS-PAUL)
• Analyzed self-reported data from manufacturers in
  STAR database
• Independently measured monitor power use
• Compared data with LBNL, ADL studies
• Made recommendations to EPA. EPA weighed them
  with others and created draft specification.

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Revising the ENERGY STAR Computer Monitor
SpecificationHighlights
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Terminology

• ON active, full power
• SLEEP After x minutes of inactivity, monitor
  goes to lower power usage mode. low power
• OFF Standby
• Remember ON, SLEEP, AND OFF

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Current ENERGY STAR Specification

• Sets minimum wattage levels in low-power or
  sleep mode.
• First Sleep Mode ? 15 watts
• Second or Deep Sleep Mode ? 8 watts

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Why Revise the Current Specification?

• Virtually all monitors meet current ENERGY STAR
  specification.
• Large percentage of monitors are not sleep
  enabled (i.e., we are not getting the energy
  savings we could be).
• Recent NRDC research shows energy use in on
  mode is 80 90 of total kWh/yr.
• For on and off modes, wide range of
  performance between similar-sized models.
• Broad interest in limiting standby power use.

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Goals for Revised Specification

• Incorporate all 3 operating modes
• On (active)
• Sleep (inactive)
• Off (standby)
• Performance-based specification.
• One specification for all monitors, not one for
  CRTs, one for LCDs, etc.
• Equal or better performance compared to
  non-ENERGY STAR labeled models.

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The Core Requirements

• Maximum allowable power consumption levels for
  each mode On, Sleep, Off
• Consensus test method for measuring active power
  usage.
• Minimum consumer acceptance criteria (brightness,
  warranty, etc.)
• Product and package labeling.

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Why Active Power?

• Feasible without negatively affecting product
  performance in fact, some manufacturers are
  already meeting the proposed specifications
• Limited additional energy savings potential in
  sleep and off modes 90 of savings with
  proposed spec is from active
• Not dependent on enabling rates
• Allows a variety of technologies (e.g., CRT and
  LCD) to qualify

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LCDs

• Highlight a new technology in the marketplace
• Additional benefits
• Space
• Heat
• Power consumption
• Useful life
• Installation
• Disposal

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On Mode Active Power Use

• Sets maximum allowable active power (W)
• Power as a function of mega pixels
• W 30 20X
• Example monitor has resolution of
• 1280 x 1024 1,310,720 or 1.31 mega pixels
• W 30 20 (1.31) 56 W

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On Mode (cont.)

• Technology neutral, agnostic to monitor type (LCD
  or CRT), size (15, 17, etc.).
• If monitor yields more information, allow a
  little more power consumption.

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Sleep Mode

• Just one sleep mode level.
• Maximum allowable power 4 W
• If multiple sleep modes, all must meet 4W
  requirement.

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Sleep Mode Advisory Language

• For consideration in updated ENERGY STAR computer
  specification
• Maximum default time 15 minutes
• Maximum recovery time 5 seconds
• Goal increase likelihood that users actually
  use and are not annoyed by energy management
  features.

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Off Mode

• Synonymous with standby.
• Power consumed when device is plugged in, but
  switched off ? 2 W.
• Working to harmonize with US Executive Order for
  Standby Power Consumption (1 watt executive
  order)

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Non-energy Reqts.

• Must be bright enough, easy-to-read, reliable.
• Brightness minimum luminance of 100 nits
  (candelas/m2).
• Contrast minimum contrast ratio of 2001.
• Defective Pixels ? 5 sub-pixel faults per
  million sub-pixels.
• Warranty at least 2 years.
• User Interface UI Standard recommended

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Labeling Requirements

• ENERGY STAR logo must be displayed on
• top/front of product,
• product package,
• product literature.

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What did the monitor industry think about our
draft specification?
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Key Industry Feedback Regarding Draft
Specification

• Industry expressed few concerns on having the new
  specification include requirements for all three
  operating modes on, sleep, and off.
• With few exceptions, industry agreed to a pixel
  per watt approach for on mode
• EPA and industry agreed to define a common test
  method for measuring on mode power consumption.
  Manufacturers to test and submit data once test
  method is finalized

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Key Industry Feedback Regarding Draft
Specification (contd)

• Should ENERGY STAR set one specification (one
  line) that covers all CRT and LCD monitors, or
  should the specification differentiate between
  CRTs and LCDs (2 lines) ?
• Specification too stringent for CRTs,
  particularly for the desktop publishing
  environment (e.g., large screen sizes)
• Wake-up time for monitor. Industry wants more
  guidance on how to measure/define wake-up time

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Key Industry Feedback Regarding Draft
Specification (contd)

• Industry supports a single sleep mode
  specification, as opposed to the current sleep
  and deep sleep design
• 4-watt sleep mode specification is agreeable
• off mode of 2 watts may be difficult for LCDs

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Key Industry Feedback Regarding Draft
Specification (contd)

• Several manufacturers questioned non-energy
  requirements
• Specific concerns include
• Brightness level will be harder to meet for
  larger CRT monitors.
• EPA should reference ISO standards for contrast
  ratio CRTs and LCDs are measured differently.
• Pixel faults only applies to LCD monitors.
• Warranties could be a serious challenge with
  retailers, and may not work in international
  markets.

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Next Steps...
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Key Next Steps for EPA and Industry

• Establish test procedure
• Industry to submit input to EPA on non-energy
  parameters
• Manufacturers to test monitors according to new
  test procedure and submit data to EPA.
• EPA to analyze new data and revise
  specifications, as necessary.

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Changes to specification based on Industry
Response

• May need to allow more CRTs to qualify
• large screen CRTs issue
• Scale down non-energy attributes
• Monitor wake-up time ?
• Test procedure

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Questions ? Comments ?
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Questions for You...

• Were their questions or comments on the first
  draft?
• Test procedure, non-energy attributes, etc....
• Like to submit next draft to you first provided
  we receive comments in timely fashion (3 weeks)
• Can you provide data from European manufacturers?

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Sleep, Off, On Mode and non-energy attributes
The Specifics
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Sleep Mode

• Current ENERGY STAR Specification
• First Sleep ? 15 W Second Sleep ? 8W
• Proposed Specification
• Just one level ? 4 W simplifies spec
• Under the new spec, sleep mode power is about 10
  of active mode power
• Roughly two-thirds of existing models can meet
  the proposed sleep requirement.

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Sleep Mode Questions

• Verify consensus
• Only 1 tier (no deep sleep)?
• Maximum power level 4 W?
• Advisory levels set at right levels?
• -Default time till sleep lt 15 minutes
• -Recovery time lt 5 seconds

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Off Mode

• Current specification no standby power limit.
• Current measured levels some as high as 8-9 W,
  several at 4-5 W.
• Proposed specification ? 2 W.
• Lots of models currently meet the 2W limit.

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Off Mode Questions

• Verify Consensus
• Is 2W the right level?
• Beneficial to have same level set in Executive
  Order (not simply 1W)?
• Suggestions on how to harmonize with European
  Union. (TCO)

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On (Active) Mode Discussion
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What Does The Term Energy Efficient Monitor
Mean?

• Efficiency Useful Output or Service Provided /
  Total Energy Input
• Useful output or service could be diagonal inches
  of screen size, square inches of screen size, or
  total pixels displayed
• Monitor not displaying information (providing
  useful output) in sleep or standby modes, so
  minimize power use at those times to achieve high
  overall efficiency
• Can account for all energy use in all three modes
  separately or with a duty cycle
• ENERGY STAR seeks to recognize top 25 efficiency

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Estimated Annual Energy Use for CRTs and LCDs
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The Advantages of Pixels/Watt

• Pixels/watt approach has a number of key
  advantages
• More technology neutral avoids difference
  between viewable screen size and total
• Screen area (square inches) unknown to consumers
• Credits CRTs for their present resolution
  advantage, yet allows for very high resolution
  options like IBMs new 9.1 million pixel LCD
• Emphasizes display quality over physical size
• Avoids difficulty of trying to estimate a
  representative duty cycle for all monitors
• Simple, like lumens/watt (lighting) or CFM/watt
  (fans). Can also be characterized as
  watts/megapixel

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Effect of Resolution and Monitor Type on Active
Power Consumption
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Effect of Resolution and Monitor Type on Active
Power Consumption for Monitors 17 and Less
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Effect of Resolution and Monitor Type on Active
Power Consumption for Monitors Greater than 17
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Applying Active Power Spec to Standard Resolutions
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Need for Consistent Measurement

• STAR database contains self-reported data from
  manufacturers
• Not all monitors measured under identical
  conditions in active or on mode
• Depending on user settings and image displayed,
  CRT power variations can be /- 30. LCD
  variations can be /- 50.
• ENERGY STAR has helped develop common test
  methods to the ventilation and lighting
  industries may be able to bring standardization
  to monitor measurements as well.

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Effects of User Settings on Power for a 21 CRT
Monitor
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Effects of User Settings on Power for a 17 LCD
Monitor
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Non-Energy Aspects of the Specification
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Why Include Non-Energy Attributes?

• Goal is to ensure a level playing field
  maintain or enhance quality while saving energy
• What aspects of product quality or performance
  could be compromised if a manufacturer looked for
  a quick fix to meet the new ENERGY STAR spec?
• ENERGY STAR and the utilities that support it
  want to ensure that customers will have a
  satisfying experience with labeled products.
• Reliability -- Saving energy is the product of
  power savings and time (kwh wh). An energy
  efficient product that fails early wont save
  much energy.

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Key Non-Energy Spec Provisions

• Brightness Minimum of 100 nits at default
  brightness and contrast settings
• LCDs typically 150 to 250 nits
• CRTs typically 80 to 120 nits
• Contrast ratio Minimum of 2001 (can adjust
  settings to achieve this level)
• LCDs typically 2001 to 4001
• CRTs typically gt4001
• Without these specs, very dim or low contrast
  screens could more easily meet ENERGY STAR but
  may not satisfy users

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Other Key Attributes

• Refresh rate Minimum of 85 Hz for CRTs and 60
  Hz for LCDs attempt to preserve ergonomic
  quality
• Pixel faults No more than 5 sub-pixel faults
  per million sub-pixels (Class II, ISO 13406-2)
  seek to minimize quality differences between CRT
  LCD
• Warranty At least 2 years - 3 years common from
  many major manufacturers, but spec recognizes
  retailer preference for selling extended
  warranties

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Other Possible Non-Energy Attributes

• Viewing angle How far from the horizontal and
  vertical axes of the screen can it still be
  clearly seen?
• Wake from sleep time How long before
  information is legible on screen after wakeup?
  Is there a consensus way to measure that?
• Pixel density pixels per inch (PPI)
• Resolution/Addressability Ratio (RAR) VESA
  Section 6.6 ability of a screen to resolve
  individual lines or pixels
• Others?

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Test Method Discussion
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Elements of a Standard Test Procedure

• Identical on-screen image (alternating black and
  white lines 1 pixel in height?) filling full
  viewable area of screen
• Default brightness and contrast settings (balance
  between simplicity and risk of manipulation)
• Highest VESA supported resolution with a refresh
  rate of at least 85 Hz for CRTs, native
  resolution and 60 Hz refresh rate for LCDs is
  other timing language needed?

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Other Test Procedure Elements

• Reference VESA specifications for power
  measurement true RMS power at 3 combinations of
  voltage and frequency, averaged across at least 5
  test samples
• 100 VAC, 50 Hz 117 VAC, 60 Hz 230 VAC, 50 Hz
• Leave off or disconnect any included peripheral
  features TV tuner, microphone, speakers, USB
  hubs, etc.
• Others?

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ENERGY STAR Office Equipment specification
revisionsWhat does the future hold?
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Future Specification Revisions

• Other Office Equipment
• Laptops (initiate research March 2002)
• Scanners, printers, copiers, MFDs, fax machines
• (Scanner USB issue initiate research Sept. 2002)
• computer (initiate research mid-2003)
• Vision
• EU-EPA collaboration
• sleep, active power and standby power
• energy efficient power supplies
• USB driven products
• universal imaging specification