For certification of enterprise servers, ENERGY STAR is transitioning from specification version 1.1 to 2.0.  Version 2.0 is not officially effective until December 16, 2013, but manufacturers may already have products certified to it.   As of August 31, 2013, Certification Bodies like MET Labs will no longer certify new products to version 1.1.

Here are the top 3 changes in Servers V. 2.0:

• Server Efficiency Rating Tool (SERT) is now a mandatory requirement
• Longer idle state testing
• Blade Systems (including Blade Servers and Blade Chassis) and  Multi-Node Servers are now eligible for certification

Selling to the U.S. government?  Did you know federal agencies are required to purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products? 

Located in Europe?  Attend this ENERGY STAR webinar that is targeted to EU manufacturers.

See all of MET’s energy efficiency testing and certification capabilities.

Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) ENERGY STAR Initiative is considering significant changes in how products manufactured and/or sold in Canada are qualified and listed. 

NRCan proposes to de-couple Canada’s ENERGY STAR technical specifications from its Energy Efficiency Regulations.  NRCan intends to use the ENERGY STAR technical specification published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exclusively for ALL product categories (except fenestration products).  A one month commentary period revealed that the harmonization of technical specifications with the EPA was not an issue for the majority of Canadian manufacturers.

This change, however, will result in other changes:  using the EPA’s specification could result in manufacturers using test procedures which, at any given time, may not be identical to those used for Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations, for regulated products.  As such, NRCan will not be collecting data from manufacturers’ EERs to auto-qualify their products for ENERGY STAR designation.

Analysis by NRCan reveals that this decision will only impact a small subset of manufacturers who sell regulated products in Canada only – and for the most part, only for those product categories whose ENERGY STAR specification’s test procedure differs significantly from the one required in Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations.  These manufacturers may be required to pay for additional testing, in order to fulfill reporting obligations to both NRCan and the EPA.

Not changing: Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations stipulate that all prescribed energy-using products, imported or shipped inter-provincially for sale or lease in Canada, must bear an energy efficiency verification mark authorized by a certification body accredited by the Standards Council of Canada.  (See MET’s energy efficiency verification mark here).  The dealer of the energy-using product must ensure that an energy efficiency report is filed with NRCan for models available for sale or lease in Canada.

At the time that the ENERGY STAR Initiative was introduced into Canada in 2001, NRCan chose to set its own efficiency levels and testing procedures for some products subject to Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations, in order to harmonize them with those required for the Regulations.  As such, ENERGY STAR qualification was automatically given to products which met the higher efficiency level required by the Canadian ENERGY STAR specification (harmonized with NRCan’s Regulations).  Manufacturers wishing to designate products as ENERGY STAR qualified simply filled out voluntary fields in their EERs, and if their product met the specified level set by a database filter, they were listed as such.

Since that time, the number of product categories eligible for ENERGY STAR recognition has doubled, the frequency of technical specification updates or revisions has doubled, and NRCan has found that the efficiency levels of ENERGY STAR specifications in Canada and the United States are identical, regardless of the units of measure or the test procedures specified.

Products for sale or lease in Canada that are not subject to Energy Efficiency Regulations have always followed the EPA’s certification process in order to achieve ENERGY STAR qualification: 

• Manufacturers must submit their product for testing to an EPA-approved laboratory
• Testing results must be validated by an EPA-approved Certification Body (CB)
• The CB must seek ENERGY STAR designation on behalf of manufacturers whose products they have validated as meeting the EPA’s specifications for ENERGY STAR qualification
• The product is recognized by the EPA and listed on their Web site

Moving forward, NRCan proposes that the above steps apply to all products which are currently eligible for ENERGY STAR designation in Canada, with the exception of fenestration products and HRVs.  This means that EPA-recognized Certification Bodies must submit data to the EPA on behalf of their clients, for all products that manufacturers wish to be recognized as ENERGY STAR qualified.  It also means that in order to do so, the data must come from an EPA-certified lab.

Comments and questions should be sent to NRCan’s ENERGY STAR Chief Dianna Miller at Dianna.Miller@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.  Include “ENERGY STAR Canada proposed changes” in your subject line.

MET Labs is an EPA-approved lab and certification body.  Get a quote now.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has posted new materials that aid in the testing and certification of lighting products for ENERGY STAR:

Certifying Luminaires – Utilizing the Certified Subcomponent Database (CSD)
This document helps luminaire manufacturers select components for ENERGY STAR fixtures. Items listed on the CSD have already been tested for photometric, life and/or electrical performance at EPA-recognized laboratories.  Using the CSD can help reduce testing costs and time associated with the ENERGY STAR certification process for luminaires.

Certifying Luminaires – LED Light Engines and GU24 Base Lamps
This document helps explain the nuances and benefits of these two light sources and how to get these products listed on the CSD.  Using these products in lieu of built-in LED systems can help reduce engineering and testing costs, and time to market. EPA’s latest ENERGY STAR specification for Luminaires provides a straightforward pathway for qualifying fixtures with these products.

Certifying Luminaires – Maximizing Testing Investment�
This document explains how testing costs can be minimized by utilizing allowable variations to group product together into a family. As an EPA-recognized certification body (CB), MET Laboratories can help determine the appropriate groupings. 

Time to Certification
This document visually shows the process to qualify a luminaire and also provides estimates for lifetime testing.

More resources can be found on EPA’s ENERGY STAR lighting webpage and on its Frequently Asked Questions page. 

For questions regarding testing and certification, contact MET Labs.

At the recent Telecommunication Certification Body Council Workshop  in Baltimore, Kwok Chan and Mark Neumann of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Office of Engineering and Technology outlined testing and certification requirements for Consumer Wireless Charging Devices. 

Wireless Charging Device

Wireless charging devices are generally used to charge batteries in portable electronic devices via magnetic induction.  Chargers can deliver up to 5W of power, enough to charge most wireless handsets, and work at distances up to 10mm.

These products have been around since the 1990s, but only have become practical in recent years, so FCC thought it was worthwhile to cover how these devices fall into the existing regulatory compliance framework.  Following are main points from the presentation.

Authorization
Chargers and clients are generally approved separately; however, they should satisfy compliance in both standalone mode and as a system.

Wireless charging devices can be approved under Part 15 or Part 18 or both rule parts. 

Part 15 authorization required if:

• Primary charging frequency includes information not related to power management
• A secondary frequency is used for communications

Part 18 authorization for the charger and clients:

• Load and power management must be integral to wireless charging operation and frequency
• May not communicate any information not related to power management and control
• Proximity of the charger and client device(s) must satisfy Part 18 requirement that the RF energy is locally generated and used
• Other communications are authorized separately under Part 15

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) considerations:

• Charger must be evaluated with appropriate client(s) in place
• The worst case transmitting conditions for the system as a whole must be evaluated for each applicable configuration: Bluetooth, WWan, WLan, etc.

Radio Frequency Exposure
Single client low power devices generally do not present exposure concerns for nearby users, but multi-client devices or short-distance power transfer can result in widely varied fields and potential exposure concerns.

For most small consumer chargers, exposure conditions identified in §2.1091(d)(4) may apply.

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) limits do not cover wireless chargers operating below 100 kHz and 300 kHz, respectively.

Conclusion
The presentation concluded with two points:

• A KDB Inquiry should be submitted for guidance for wireless charger applications
• Wireless Chargers remain on the Permit But Ask (PBA) list

Contact us for safety, EMC, SAR & FCC testing of wireless charging devices or other electrical/electronic equipment.

Sign up for a Wireless Testing & Certification Seminar in Austin, Texas in December.

As mentioned previously, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is combining the scope of the Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) and Integral LED Lamps specifications into one technology-neutral Lamps specification.

EPA held a webinar on August 8, 2012 to describe some of the requirements of this Lamps Draft 2 specification.     Following is a summary of some of the new electrical performance requirements. Please note that the following details are not finalized, but are provided for informative purposes to showcase draft details.

SIDE NOTE: EPA Program Manager for ENERGY STAR Eamon Monahan will be speaking at MET Labs’ Annual Global Product Compliance Seminar & Crab Feast in September.  He will be providing an update on the ENERGY STAR Program.  Register here. 

Start Time
Starting time is defined as the time between application of power to the device and the point where the light output reaches 98% of its initial plateau. 

Draft 2 of this specification adjusted the start time from 0.5 to 1 second. This was partially attributable to a conflict between decreasing the Start Time requirement while increasing the Rapid Cycle Stress Test requirement in Draft 1.

A start time test method was introduced in Annex D.

Run-Up Time
Run-Up time is defined as the time between the application of power to the device and the time when the light output first reaches a specified percentage of stable light output. This requirement is primarily based on the premise that the consumer expects quick response when using lamps.

Solid state products are now exempted from this requirement, while CFLs maintain the levels provided in Draft 1.   

A run-up time test method was introduced in Annex E.

Power Factor
Draft 1 had listed a power factor of 0.7 for all lamps >5W.  This has now changed as per lamp type.  Draft 2 power factors are now:

• Residential CFLs ≥ 0.5
• Commercial CFLs ≥ 0.9
• Residential Solid State ≥ 0.7
• Commercial Solid State ≥ 0.9

Dimming
For the dimming requirement of the specification, the EPA is currently waiting on additional stakeholder input in the areas of:

• Dimming level
• Flicker
• Audible noise
• Compatibility

Transient Protection
Draft 2 made two changes to this requirement:

• There is now a new exemption for low voltage lamps
• Lamp base orientation language was removed from testing guidance

Electromagnetic & Radio Frequency Interference
Since FCC compliance is already required by law, reference to FCC requirements was removed from the specification.

Lamp Toxics Reduction
IEC 62554 was added as the test procedure reference for documenting the mercury content found in the product.

Lamp Base and Shape
A requirement for Lamp Base Dimensions and Tolerances was deleted from Draft 1.  The requirement was considered redundant. Lamp base dimensions are already verified during electrical safety evaluation.

Lamp Shape Dimensional Requirements are now applicable to ANSI standard lamps only.

This new lighting specification and much more are sure to be discussed at the 2012 ENERGY STAR Products Partner Meeting for Lighting, Appliances, Water Heaters & Electronics being held from October 22–24, 2012 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Find out how to get ENERGY STAR testing or certification body services or product safety certification for lighting.

Although this year marks the 20th anniversary of the ENERGY STAR program, lighting was a bit late to the party.  It wasn’t until 15 years ago that residential light fixtures got their first ENERGY STAR specification, and 13 years ago that compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) did.

ENERGY STAR lighting continues to evolve.  Following are some updates.

Luminaires
The Luminaires Version 1.1 specification became effective April 1, 2012.  It combines the scope of the Solid-State Lighting (SSL) Version 1.3 specification and the Residential Light Fixtures Version 4.2 specification.

Only those light fixture models that have been third-party certified as meeting the Luminaires V1.1 requirements now appear on the ENERGY STAR qualified product list. Fixtures qualified under the previous specifications will not be “grandfathered in” to this new specification.

There are nearly 500 qualified luminaires from more than 50 manufacturers, covering over 20 different product types.

Lamps
The new ENERGY STAR Lamps V1.0 specification is still being developed.  This new specification will merge the scope of the Compact Fluorescent Lamps V4.3 and Integral LED Lamps V1.4 specifications into one technology-neutral specification. 

For draft 1 of the Lamps specification, EPA received 175 pages of comments. These comments are being considered for draft 2, which is anticipated in the next several months.

Certification Bodies
Using the new third party certification (3PC) process, in 2011 Certification Bodies like MET Labs certified 191 CFLs, 357 LED lamps, 166 luminaires, and 1,462 light strings.  In 2012, the number of lighting products certified is expected to be even higher.

According to EPA research, CB processing time ranges from 24 hours to two weeks, depending on a certification body’s work load and the completeness of a product submission.

Once a CB certifies a product meets an ENERGY STAR specification, it sends the data to EPA to be uploaded to the qualified products lists (QPLs).  Lists are currently updated weekly for bulbs and twice a month for fixtures (around the first and the middle of the month). By the end of 2012, all product lists should be updated on a daily basis.

Upcoming Events
The next ENERGY STAR products partner meeting is October 22–24, 2012 in St. Paul, Minnesota.  This is for lighting, as well as appliance and electronics partners and other stakeholders.

EPA Program Manager for ENERGY STAR Eamon Monahan will be speaking at MET Labs’ Annual Global Product Compliance Seminar & Crab Feast  in September.

Find out how to get ENERGY STAR testing or certification body services.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced the final 2012 recognition criteria for its ENERGY STAR “Most Efficient” designation, which recognizes products with exceptional efficiency performance.

In the second year of this pilot effort, eight product categories will be eligible for recognition:

• Air-source heat pumps
• Boilers
• Central air conditioners
• Clothes washers
• Furnaces
• Geothermal heat pumps
• Refrigerator-freezers
• Televisions

The Most Efficient designation may be used in retail displays or web pages, but not on products or product packaging. See the full usage guidelines.

The 2012 recognition criteria for ENERGY STAR’s Most Efficient are summarized here.

In addition to meeting these performance requirements, products must be certified as ENERGY STAR by an EPA-recognized certification body, like MET Labs.  

Find out more about requirements, cost, and lead time for ENERGY STAR testing and certification.

The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) 2011 Technical Forum and Annual Meeting was March 28 – April 4, 2011.  MET Laboratories was in attendance. 

Following is a summary of one element of the forum – the ENERGY STAR Program Meeting – as recorded by MET’s ENERGY STAR Program Manager Sam Tetteh.

• A2LA will conduct ISO 17025 accreditation for Test Labs and ISO Guide 65 for Certification Bodies (CBs)
• A2LA must operate in accordance with ISO 17011, and be an ILAC MRA Signatory
• A2LA must provide to EPA, upon request, documentation relating to a laboratory’s accreditation status and assessments
• A2LA must assess a laboratory’s evidence of impartiality:

- The laboratory staff must show evidence of participating in, and passing, ethics audits

- Laboratories must have a “whistleblower” policy/procedure/program which should instruct whistleblowers to contact the EPA as well as other pertinent parties

• Assessment Documentation must be kept for a minimum of 5 years
• Test Labs must maintain impartiality of testing staff from all inside and outside influences
• Test Labs must participate in proficiency testing (PT) when pertinent and available and submit results to EPA (currently there is no known commercial PT available)
• Test Labs must report within 30 days to EPA and Accrediting Body of any major changes to staff (essential or key personnel), facilities, procedures, or legal status
• CBs must maintain test reports for certified products for 5 years, or for duration of certification, whichever is longer

The Meeting’s minutes will posted in a couple weeks on the A2LA website.

More about ENERGY STAR testing and certification.

On Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the final Version 5.3 ENERGY STAR Television specification.

The Version 5.3 specification will take effect on September 30, 2011.  This date is pushed back from July 2011 due to stakeholder feedback.

Version 5.3 modifies the Download Acquisition Mode (DAM) requirements to 40 watt-hours per day (0.04 kWh/day).  The 40 w-h/day limit is a compromise between the current 80 w-h/day limit and the 20 w-h/day limit that was originally proposed.

All materials related to the specification revision process for televisions will be available on EPA’s ENERGY STAR product development site at www.energystar.gov/RevisedSpecs under “Televisions,” although they were not yet available at the time of this posting.

Here is the deployment timeline:

• Effective immediately, manufacturers may elect to have their ENERGY STAR Certification Body (CB) certify their televisions to the Version 5.3 requirements.
• After May 31, 2011, CBs will stop certifying new product submittals to Version 4.3.  Existing certifications will remain valid until September 30, 2011.
• As of September 30, 2011, any TV shipped with an ENERGY STAR label must meet Version 5.3 requirements. 

Already, 26% of ENERGY STAR qualified products meet the 5.3 requirements, including 27% of sets larger than 50”. 

EPA plans to launch the Version 6 development effort in early 2011.

As part of the first day’s programming at the Consumer Electronics Show, the Tech Policy Summit featured a panel session on “ENERGY STAR and Consumer Electronics: What Does the Future Hold?”   This session covered how the recent changes to verification, testing and enforcement affect manufacturers, retailers and consumers.  As an EPA-recognized certification body, MET Laboratories was in attendance.

The panel session was moderated by Mike Feazel, executive editor of Consumer Electronics Daily and other publications.  Panelists included:

• Steve Dulac, director of engineering for DIRECTV, Inc.
• Katharine Kaplan, EPA ENERGY STAR team leader
• Huey Long, senior VP of technology services at Sam’s Club
• Alex Padilla, member of California State Senate
• Chris Saunders, product energy programs manager at Lexmark International
• Mark Sharp, group manager for the corporate environmental department of Panasonic Corporation of North America

Following is a paraphrasing of some of the panelists comments.

On the rapid ENERGY STAR testing and verification program implementation:

Kaplan: We had planned to implement testing and verification over a multi-year timeline, but we were pushed to do it quicker.  This truncated the stakeholder engagement process.  However, EPA responded to stakeholder comments by recognizing international standards (using ISO 17025), allowing for the use of in-house labs, recognizing the importance of keeping costs down (working with CBs to create competition), and recognizing accreditation bodies around the globe (representing 16 countries currently).

Sharp: From a manufacturer’s perspective, additional new burdens are largely put on manufacturers only.  Manufacturer input was considered but not heard at the level we’re used to.

Dulac: This is a one-size-fits-all solution.  EPA didn’t have time to differentiate.

On California’s outsized importance in energy efficiency discussions:

Sharp: We deal with California almost like we deal with the federal government, because it becomes de facto national law.  We make a big investment in stakeholder relations in California.

On the potential to charge a price premium for ENERGY STAR products:

Saunders: Features and functions are consumers’ first priority.  Second is energy efficiency.  We have to sell ENERGY STAR printers at the same cost as our other printers.

Sharp: We can’t charge more – it is something we eat.  It is a challenge for us to market. 

Dulac: You have to have it if you want to be seen as a leader in your space.

If there was one thing that manufacturers could change about the new ENERGY STAR requirements:

Saunders: More time.  We received the final requirements 6 weeks before the change.  Also, the top 25 rule.  This is a market changer.

Sharp: Top 25% is very difficult for manufacturers.  We are caught in the middle.  We want to sell as many products as possible. 

Kaplan: The idea of ENERGY STAR is to recognize the top performers in each category.  There has been a lot of criticism from media when they walk down the aisle at Best Buy and every TV is ENERGY STAR labeled.  ENERGY STAR was always meant to be an elite label.

Saunders: The entire certification decision is in the hands of the certification body.  They can accept the testing as valid or invalid.

Kaplan: We are interested in this working for our manufacturing partners.  Technical staff is available all day every day.  It is written into our partner agreement – tell us if there are problems or abuses, and we will take action. 

On a new best of the best label:

Kaplan: We are vetting a program called “most efficient.”  It will launch in the spring timeframe.  It will be the top 5%.  We are launching with four product categories: televisions, clothes washers, refrigerators, and the fourth I can’t remember.