Standby Power

Standby store data, which has been collected from retail stores over the period from 2001 to date is now available for download - this covers over 7000 products. An international project to add to this data set is now under way. See the main project page to find out more about International Projects on Standby and efforts to track global standby power trends.

Many modern appliances use power all day and night, even when not in use. This 'Standby Power' may be substantial and required to maintain a convenient 'ready' state for instant, on demand use. However, in some cases, standby power serves no useful function or operates at excessive levels for the background task being performed. Standby becomes necessary to power certain core functions or to sense communication for those products that are waiting to provide full services. This power is consumed not while the appliance is being fully utilised but while it awaits instruction; while it is "standing by". Some appliances also perform a continuous function that requires small amounts of continuous power.

Australian governments have been developing policy on standby for some time. This web site provides some background to the development of this policy.

The Ministerial Council on Energy (MCE) has resolved that Australia will expand its commitment to reducing excessive standby by formulating coordinated product-specific plans to address excessive standby over ten years, 2002 - 2012, within the umbrella of the IEA "One Watt" initiative. Within this timeframe, specific product types may be identified as "at risk" of using excessive standby and will therefore be targeted for specific action. Each product will then be dealt with in potentially a two-stage action plan designed to reduce standby to levels acceptable for that product as quickly as economically viable. The first stage is development of product profiles for each major product group. Details of the strategy are outlined in the Ministerial Council on Energy strategy on standby titled "Money isn't all you're saving".

ENERGY STAR is an international standard for energy-efficient electronic equipment. It was created by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1992 and has now been adopted by several countries around the world, including Australia. In Australia, Commonwealth, State and Territory Government agencies are cooperating through the National ENERGY STAR Program to encourage the use of energy-efficient equipment at home and in business. ENERGY STAR is a key part of the standby strategy.

E₃ Committee has the following links on standby:

Background on standby power.
Description of standby Product Profiles.

In September 2003 Standards Australia published an interim test method for the measurement of standby power AS/NZS 62301-2003 (int.) and this is now available for purchase. This standard will be referenced by test methods or regulatory standards where standby requirements are specified. This is based on the IEC CDV of the standard of the same number.

The following reports and documents can be downloaded from the E₃ Committee electronic library under Standby:

Standby store data, which has been collected from retail stores over the period from 2001 to date is now available for download - this covers to 6500 products.
The standby Product Profiles that have been released for discussion to date.
Appliance Standby Power Consumption Store Survey 2003. Report 2003/04.
ECEEE paper prepared by Holt & Harrington - Australia's contribution on Standby Power.
IEC Standby Test Method - committee draft 59/325/CD - March 2003.
A Study of Office Equipment Operational Energy Use Issues. Report 2003/07.
A Study of Home Entertainment Equipment Operational Energy Use Issues. Report 2003/03.
MCE Standby Strategy, November 2002 - "Money isn't all you're saving". Report 2002/12.
Standby Power Consumption - a discussion paper. NAEEEC long-term strategy to achieve Australia's One-Watt Goal 2002 to 2012, July 2002. Report 2002/09.
Quantification of residential standby power consumption in Australia - April 2001.
Green Office Guide - A guide to help you buy and use environmentally friendly office equipment. A joint initiative of Commonwealth, State, and Territory government agencies, 2001.
The Leaking Electricity Initiative: an International Action to Reduce Standby Power Waste of Electrical Equipment, 1999.

This page last modified 02 February 2009