UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCYWASHINGTON, D.C. 20460

OFFICE OF AIR
AND RADIATION

November 18, 2014®

Dear ENERGY STAR Displays Partner or Other Interested Stakeholder:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) welcomes your input on the following Draft 1
Version 7.0 ENERGY STAR Displays specification. This letter outlines the rationale for revising
the specification and summarizes the proposed changes. EPA expects Version 7.0 will take effectin early 2016. The Department of Energy (DOE) also welcomes your input on the Draft 2 TestMethod.
In recent years, the energy consumption of displays has decreased significantly. Currently, theaverage power consumption of ENERGY STAR certified monitors is 46 percent less than theenergy use of conventional models. Since Version 6.0 was finalized in 2012, the number ofENERGY STAR certified models has grown to represent the majority of the total available models
on the market. Therefore, the ENERGY STAR program has the opportunity to further differentiate
among today’s efficient models to ensure that the ENERGY STAR label remains an effective toolfor consumers. EPA also believes that for the type of signage display eligible within the scope of
this specification, the ENERGY STAR models represent a large portion of the total market.
Further, EPA recognizes that the market for signage displays has evolved since the developmentof Version 6.0. With this revision, EPA will examine the scope for signage displays with theintention of broadening coverage.
In establishing the proposed new performance levels, EPA analyzed data associated with over
1100 ENERGY STAR display models—over 900 of which are computer monitors. A masked
version of the dataset is attached to this distribution.
The Draft 1 Version 7.0 specification includes the following key elements:•On Mode Requirements: The proposed requirements reflect the performance of the top
20 percent of monitors and top quartile of signage displays currently in the EPA dataset.
EPA believes the dataset includes most computer monitor models and non-TV signage
models under 60 inches on the market today. The proposed levels capture a variety ofsizes and models from a variety of manufacturers for both computer monitors andsignage displays. In addition, EPA proposes a revised allowance for enhanced
performance displays (EPDs) that reflects the performance of 14 of the 38 currently
qualified EPDs and also proposes an allowance for signage displays based onluminance. EPA seeks more data for signage displays with very high default as-shippedluminances.

•Resolution: ENERGY STAR-certified monitor data shows that today’s monitors candeliver higher resolution with a lower power budget than they previously required. Basedon an analysis of resolution and power consumption within the dataset, EPA proposes1

providing a 2.0 watts per megapixel allowance instead of the current allowance of 6.0
watts per megapixel.
•Automatic Brightness Control (ABC): To determine if ABC is enabled by default andcan therefore qualify for an allowance, EPA proposes calculating power consumption at
12 lux in lieu of the current 10 lux. This is a minor change that would harmonize with oneof the lux values required for testing TVs with ABC enabled by default in the ENERGYSTAR Televisions Specification. EPA also proposes reducing the ABC allowance from 10
percent to 5 percent; 40 percent of the small subset of products that qualify using ABC
would continue to qualify with this reduced allowance. For signage displays, EPA seeks
feedback on which lux levels accurately represent the lighting conditions where signage
displays are typically used, in both indoor and outdoor commercial environments.

•Additional allowances: EPA proposes revising certain sleep mode allowances,including an allowance for occupancy sensors, and proposes adding an allowance fortouch capability.

•Scope: EPA proposes removing the exclusion for products with a viewable diagonal
screen size greater than 61 inches, since many signage displays sold today are larger
than 61 inches, and proposes including displays with internal processors, since certain
signage displays today include them but do not otherwise meet the definition of acomputer for ENERGY STAR purposes.

•Definitions: EPA is introducing new definitions for Full Network Connectivity (toharmonize with the definition in the televisions specification), Standard dc Power, andInternal Processors.

•Test Procedure: With this draft, the Department of Energy (DOE) is releasing Draft 2 of
the Test Method, which includes a test procedure for products powered by Standard dc,and introduces testing products with full network connectivity.

•Supplemental TEC Proposal: Traditionally, EPA has applied a modal approach forevaluating display efficiency. In some electronics categories, EPA has migrated to a
Typical Electricity Consumption (TEC) approach in the ENERGY STAR Computers,Imaging, and Set-top Box Specifications. As new features and functionality, such as
touch functionality, occupancy sensing, and network connectivity, come into the display
market and are enabled during sleep mode, the energy allowance to qualify for ENERGYSTAR needs to balance flexibility while still continuing to drive efficiency. In the interestof providing this flexibility, EPA has outlined a TEC framework for consideration bystakeholders for monitors only, building off already established duty cycles associatedwith computers. Should EPA move to a TEC approach, the additional power needed forfunctionality within sleep modes would be factored into the TEC limits for monitors. EPA
is sharing with stakeholders this supplemental TEC proposal to demonstrate how
applying a TEC approach based on the modal limits proposed in Draft 1 would appear inthe specification. Should support exist for a TEC approach, EPA will factor the changes
into a Draft 2.

Stakeholders are requested to provide comments on the Draft 1 specification, the TEC
framework and the Draft 2 Test Procedure, as well as data specific to Signage Displays, nolater than Friday, January 16, 2015. Please send comments via displays@energystar.gov.
All comments received will be posted to the ENERGY STAR Product Development website,
unless the submitter specifically requests that his or her comments remain confidential.
On December 11, 2014 from 12:00 Noon–3:00 PM, Eastern Time, EPA will host astakeholder webinar to present details on Draft 1 Version 7.0 ENERGY STAR Displays2

specification and the data analysis performed to date, as well as address stakeholder questions
and concerns regarding the Draft 1. If you wish to attend this meeting, please register prior tothe meeting.
The exchange of ideas and information between EPA, industry, and other interested parties iscritical to the success of ENERGY STAR. To track EPA’s progress in revising the ENERGYSTAR TV products specification and to review comments, please visit the Product DevelopmentWeb site at www.energystar.gov/RevisedSpecs and click on “Version 7.0 is in development”
under “Displays.”Thank you for taking the time to review these materials. Please contact me atRadulovic.Verena@epa.gov or (202) 343-9845 with any questions or concerns. For anyquestions related to the test method for ENERGY STAR products, please contact Jeremy
Dommu at Jeremy.Dommu@ee.doe.gov or (202) 586-970.

Best Regards,

Verena Radulovic, Product Manager
ENERGY STAR for Consumer Electronics
Enclosures:
Draft 1 Version 7.0 ENERGY STAR Displays Products Specification
Proposed Total Energy Consumption (TEC) Approach for ENERGY STAR Version 7.0 Monitors
Draft 2 Version 7.0 ENERGY STAR Displays Test Method
Masked Dataset Used to Determine Proposed Draft 1 Energy Efficiency Requirements andChart Showing Proposed Draft 1 Energy Efficiency Requirements
EPA Data Assembly Form3