World's most boring DVD and Blu-ray Disc™ to measure energy efficiency of new generation TVs

IEC 62087, Methods of measurement for the
power consumption of audio, video and related
equipment

IEC 62087 is the world's new International Standard for measuring the energy efficiency of the latest generation of plasma and LCD televisions and other devices such as cable set-top boxes. The standard includes two DVDs and a Blu-ray Disc™ that contain the world's most boring television programme ever – a series of video clips that provides a standard range of the typical content played on your television. The clips include fast-moving action, wildlife footage, a range of studio-based coverage, and even animated cartoons.

Growing concern about power consumption brings a sense of urgency to environmental agencies and government regulators anxious for a way to obtain power measurements on LCD and plasma TVs. Reducing per model TV energy use by 25 % by 2009 could save more than 10 billion kWh per year in the U.S. alone.

The second edition of IEC 62087 addresses the issue by specifying methods of measurement for the power consumption of televisions, video, recording equipment, set-top boxes, audio and multi-function equipment for consumer use. Television types include CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), LCD and plasma.

As part of the development of this International Standard, TV broadcasters and manufacturers assembled a mix of different genres that spans news, animated cartoons, nature programmes and sports which model the typical brightness levels for television broadcast around the world. This caters for the varying power needs of televisions according to the amount of light that is required to display each scene.

In addition, Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the DOE (U.S. Department of Energy), distributed the draft IEC Standard to a number of manufacturers to draw up specifications. Power levels for well over a hundred television models were measured, and charted.

The actual standard is on a CD while the programme comes in three different video formats: 50 Hz DVD, 60 Hz DVD and Blu-ray Disc™. The complete package offers a way to measure power consumption and provides manufacturers with a means to provide accurate energy label ratings for consumers.

Project Leader Jon Fairhurst, from IEC TC (Technical Committee) 100: Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment, said: "The IEC Standard was passed without opposition internationally, and has the support of participating companies, government agencies and environmental groups." Fairhurst, who works at Sharp Labs of America, summarizes the IEC Standard's unique factors as including environmental benefits, catering for the latest flat-panel technologies, and being published as standardized video content on a high definition disc.

IEC 62087 forms the basis of the EPA's Energy Star 3.0 for Televisions, effective on 1 November 2008. The European Union, Australia and New Zealand are also in the process of adopting this International Standard at regional and national levels.