TC38-TG2 - Energy Consumption

Scope - Programme of work - TC38

Upcoming meetings

None.

Activities - Scope and contacts

Measuring the Energy consumption of Personal Computing Products

The 2^nd edition of ECMA-383 provides a test methodology to measure the energy consumption based on a categorisation of the notebook or desktop computer as as this presentation clarifies. The categories are embedded in a registry in order to segregate them from the testing standard. This allows for the testing methodology to remain static longer while allowing the categories to adjust with the fast changing market conditions typically found in the ICT market. Additionally, Ecma 389 provides for an update and appeals process for the categorization registry for both notebooks and desktops.

Problem statement

Many regulatory and voluntary energy requirements for personal computing products exist that often require several tests for the same product. None of international standards available today provide a test procedure that enables a manufacturer to test once to a single standard. For example, IEC 62301 covers low power modes only, IEC 62087 has a scope that does not include personal computing products and IEC 62018 cannot be used for regulatory and voluntary agreements.

ECMA-383 2^nd edition

The 2^nd edition of ECMA-383 provides one holistic test methodology for all voluntary and regulatory agreements across the globe. The standard provides:

• Methodologies to test and report power consumption in each individual power state (e.g. off, sleep and idle).
• A calculation methodology to extrapolate these individual measures into any number of time periods e.g. annualised energy consumption.
• A methodology to enable the categorisation (with regular update process defined in ECMA-389) of the product, thereby enabling like for like comparisons when reporting energy consumption.

This standard provides a holistic test methodology; not set any pass / fail limits or criteria. Those may be set by the customer of the data – e.g. the regulator, procurer or voluntary agreement owner.

Background and History

Ecma issued the world’s first environmentally conscious design standard (ECMA-341) for the ICT & CE industries in 2003. This standard is aimed at the designer and provides pragmatic advice on how to reduce the environmental footprint of a product at the design stage.

Through the development of ECMA-341 it was recognised that the energy efficiency part of the standard was incomplete. One significant gap for the ICT & CE industry is how to measure the true energy efficient performance of a given product.

The initial focus of the Ecma energy consumption work is at a system level for desktop and notebook (in AC mode) computers.

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