Background information on standby data

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Definition of "Standby"

Appliances and equipment with a "standby mode" may include any household product that consumes power while not performing its primary function. A simple definition of "standby" is when an appliance is at its lowest power consumption when connected to mains power, even if the appliance is turned off (lowest power mode that can be influenced by the user). However, "standby" is better defined under various modes and for the purpose of this research, standby modes were defined as follows:

Power Measurement Fields

Off

When a product or appliance is connected to a power source but does not produce any sound or picture, transmit or receive information or is waiting to be switched "on" by the consumer. If the product has a remote control, it cannot be woken by the remote control from off mode. While the product may be doing some internal functions in off mode (e.g. memory functions, EMC filters) these are not obvious to the user.

Passive Standby

When a product or appliance is not performing its main function but it is ready to be switched on (in most cases with a remote control) or is performing some secondary function (e.g. has a display or clock). This mode also applies to power supplies for battery-operated equipment (portable appliances which are intended to be used when disconnected from the base station) when the appliance is not being charged.

Active Standby:

Active standby is mostly applicable to VCRs and some stereo equipment where operating involves some mechanical drive (such as DVD and CD players). Active standby is when the appliance on but not performing its main function. For example, the VCR may be on but is not playing or recording. This mode also applies to power supplies for battery-operated equipment (portable appliances) when the appliance is being charged (various sub-modes).

Delay Start:

Delay start mode was measured for the first time in the 2003/04 survey. This feature is fast becoming commonplace on many major appliances. Essentially the appliance can be programmed to begin functioning at a later time; in some cases up to 24 hours later. Appliances left in this mode are in neither active nor passive standby and therefore it was decided to measure this mode as a separate category. The effect this mode will have on consumption will largely be determined by consumer behaviour. The recent EES (2005) intrusive survey found between 20 to 25% of consumers used this function when it is available.

Field Descriptions

The table following describes the fields in the file. As the survey methods were improved over the years, more information was collected and hence some earlier years data do not contain all the fields.

Field Name	Description
Data Source	Source of data - survey or manufacturer supplied
Year	Year of survey or manufacturer supplied data
Month	Month of survey or manufacturer supplied data
Survey Item Number	ID number for survey
Profile	The broad category of appliance
Appliance	The appliance type
Brand/ Manufacturer	Brand or Manufacturer
Model	Model name/number with no spaces
Price	Retail price of item found in store
Size	Size of item where applicable/collected (see units in table of Modes for description of size field for a particular appliance
Hard Off switch?	The presence of a hard off switch. Yes, No, Switches appliance to standby mode (S), Both hard off switch and standby switch are present (HS)
Remote Control?	The presence of a remote control (Yes)
Energy Label?	The presence of an Energy Rating or EnergyStar label
In-use	Power consumption in Watts in this mode (if applicable)
Active Standby	Power consumption in Watts in this mode (if applicable)
Passive Standby	Power consumption in Watts in this mode (if applicable)
Off	Power consumption in Watts in this mode (if applicable)
Delay Start	Power consumption in Watts in this mode (if applicable)
EPS Only	Power consumption in Watts for External Power Supply (if applicable)
Notes	Survey notes for a particular item (if applicable)

Modes Tested by Appliance

Appliance List	In Use	Active Standby	Passive Standby	Delay Start	Off	EPS*(likely)
Air Conditioner			X	X	X
AV Receiver		X	X		X
Breadmaker		X			X
Computers - Box					X
Computers - Home Theatre Box	X		X		X
Computers - Laptop					X	X
Computers - Monitor	X		X		X	X
Computers - Speakers		X			X	X
Computers - Other		X	X		X
Cordless Phone		X	X			X
Dishwasher		X		X	X
Dryer		X		X	X
DVD Player		X	X		X
DVD Recorder		X	X		X
Espresso Machine					X
Facsimile		X			X
Fan			X	X	X
Game Console		X			X
Gas Water Heaters			X
Hand-held Vacuum		X	X			X
Hard Disk Recorder	X	X	X		X
Heater - Electric Portable			X	X	X
Heater - Gas			X	X	X
Home Entertainment Other		X	X		X	X
Home Theatre Systems		X	X		X
Juicer					X
Microwave			X			X
Mobile Phone		X				X
Modem		X	X		X	X
Multi Function Device		X			X	X
Printer - Injet			X		X	X
Printer - Laser			X		X
Set Top Box				X
Stereo - Integrated		X	X		X
Stereo - Portable		X	X		X
Stereo - Component		X	X		X
Subwoofer		X	X		X
Toaster					X
TV - LCD	X		X		X
TV - Plasma	X		X		X
TV - Projection	X		X		X
TV - CRT	X		X		X
TV/VCR	X	X	X		X
VCR		X	X		X
Washer/Dryer		X		X	X
Washing Machines (all types)		X		X	X

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This page last modified 05 December 2006