The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has mandated the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) to implement the national Energy Efficiency Appliance Standards and Labelling (S&L) Program. The Program has been in place for large residential appliances since 2015. Its success has resulted in an expansion of products with the support of CLASP, which includes the development of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and an energy efficiency label for televisions in South Africa. Learn more at www.savingenergy.org.za

The development of these standards to improve the energy performance of the televisions manufactured and imported into South Africa and an energy efficiency label to guide consumer buying choices is to lessen the burden of electronic goods on the grid considering the ongoing electricity crisis.

Lower energy consumption will result in reduced electricity costs and Green House Gas emissions in line with South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Thus, this project is crucial to improving the sustainability of the industry.

Areas of opportunity for increased efficiencies in the market Research on residential electricity consumption in South Africa conducted in 2021 shows that 92% of households have one television, while 36% have two or more. 60% of households use their TVs for more than 4 hours daily. The number of televisions owned is projected to grow to approximately 28.4 million units by 2032, directly increasing the energy use from televisions.

Further, the size of television screens has been increasing, directly increasing the television’s power consumption. In addition, due to recent technological advancements in many parts of the world, including South Africa, televisions have evolved in the industry. For example, the switch from analogue broadcasts to digital. This has allowed the introduction of high-definition broadcasts and screens. Today, a high-definition tuner and screen will require more power than a standard-definition screen and tuner of the same size, irrespective of the signal being processed.

MEPS and labelling are an essential policy instrument MEPS and energy