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Standby Power in Canada: Understanding, Awareness, and Potential Initiatives

This presentation explores the issue of standby power consumption in Canada, including public awareness, current power levels, and potential initiatives to address the issue. It provides an overview of what standby power is, highlights the results of a public awareness survey, and discusses Canada's current efforts to regulate and reduce standby power. The presentation concludes with proposed initiatives to further reduce standby power consumption in the residential and commercial sectors.

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Standby Power in Canada: Understanding, Awareness, and Potential Initiatives

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  1. Standby Power in CanadaJune 4, 2008

  2. Agenda • Standby Power • Why is it an issue • Definition • What do Canadians know about Standby Power? • Public’s awareness survey (Ipsos Reid) • What does NRCan know about Standby Power level? • In-store study by Navigant • What is Canada doing about Standby Power? • Immediate issues/barriers • Potential initiatives • Questions?

  3. What is standby power? • The lowest power consumption mode which cannot be switched off by the user, which may persist while the product is plugged in. • Used to power a built-in clock, respond to programming or to remote commands. • External energy supplies (“battery packs”) consume power the moment they are plugged into an outlet. A.K.A. …vampire loads… phantom loads… leaking electricity… waiting electricity… free-running power… off-mode power…

  4. What’s the issue? • All electricity used in standby power is not “wasted” – it is the price we pay for the added convenience. • The issue is not that standby exists, nor the functionality that it provides to consumers, but the power levels in some products are unacceptable.

  5. …and more All around the house

  6. Standby 1980 1990 2000 2010 1970 A growing concern Source: Benoit Lebot, International Energy Agency (IEA)

  7. What do Canadians know about standby? • Ipsos Reid was hired to survey Canadian households, to determine the level of awareness of standby power in Canada. • 2200 homes were called for a 15 minute telephone survey. • The level of awareness will help NRCan and stakeholders develop communications related activities.

  8. Canadians are “aware” of standby power

  9. Canadians have “some” understanding of the issue

  10. Canadians recognize the need for Government involvement

  11. Canadians recognize value of ENERGY STAR

  12. In 2007, Canada commissioned a study to measure the standby power consumed by products that were literally on the shelves of Canadian stores. What does NRCan know about standby power? In-store retail standby power study:

  13. Study process • Develop Tools to Survey Standby Power: • Conduct In-Store Measurements: Performed measurements of products on the shelves of four stores in Toronto and in one Vancouver (with assistance from BC Hydro). • Estimate National Standby Power Consumption: Used the study data, along with data collected from other household energy-use studies.

  14. Measured results There is a wide range of standby power consumption.

  15. Measured results Many products use less than 1W, using current technology

  16. Data represents annual energy consumption by products purchased in 2007 alone. Bars of comparable size represent favourable savings potential. Annual consumption

  17. Summary of the data GHG emissions could be reduced by 2 Mt CO2eq

  18. What is Canada doing? • Propose regulations for specific products • Horizontal standards – will require Amendment to the Energy Efficiency Act • Implementation of a new test method for measuring standby power; CAN/CSA-62301:07 Gary Lunn, Minister Natural Resources Canada

  19. What is Canada doing? Proposed product-specific regulations

  20. What is Canada doing? • Standby power consumption surveys in stores and homes • Promotion of ENERGY STAR qualified equipment • Fact sheets/Articles on Standby Power • Standby Power Advisory Committee (SPAC)

  21. In the meantime… • Regulations powerful tool, but limited to new products. • What can we do until regulations are in place? • What barriers do Canadians face? • Myths about shutting off equipment?

  22. Most products only have soft-off capability Most products cannot be switched entirely “OFF”

  23. Canadians have power bars but do not use them to save energy

  24. Proposed initiatives through SPAC • Residential • Monitor change out program (CRT to LCD) • Pilot in major centres (Montreal, GTA, Vancouver, Ottawa?) • Need to include recycling of old CRT • Awareness campaign • Multi-stakeholder campaign to coincide with major buying season. • Commercial / institutional • Computer Power Management campaign • Integrating procurement and employee awareness messaging • Need to research software option

  25. Thank you! Bruce Strathearn Natural Resources Canada Phone: 613-996-6748 Email: bstrathe@nrcan.gc.ca

  26. Supplemental slide

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