Energy Saving Power Supplies

This page provides a summary of the requirements of the various bodies which currently define and regulate the no load power consumption and active mode efficiency of external power supplies. A summary of the performance levels of XP Power’s products is included for reference.

Two important reasons for wanting to control the power taken by an external power supply are continuity of the energy supply and reduction of environmental impacts. Targets are given for external supplies because of the quantity sold each year, they normally do not have an off button and they are very commonly left plugged into the mains supply.

Many areas of the world are introducing limits for no load power consumption and operating efficiency of external power supplies. In the US there are three main parties, these being; California Energy Commission (CEC), US Congress with its Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), both of which are mandatory and finally Energy Star which is voluntary. In Europe there is the Energy related Products (ErP) Directive formally known as the Energy using Products (EuP) Directive. Other parts of the world that are enacting legislation are mainly basing their limits on previous Energy Star requirements. Recently there has been a move by both CEC and ErP to standardize their requirements with Energy Star to reduce the confusion of multiple limits. In the US, the CEC limits changed on 1st July 2008 and the Energy Star limits changed on 1st Nov 2008. In Europe, the limits changed on 1st Jan, 2009.

The tables within Summary of Limits show the limits imposed by the four bodies. The average efficiency is taken as the mean of individual efficiencies at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% loads.

A quick reference guide of the performance levels and compliance to the various standards for XP external power supplies is included in this page.

Energy Independence & Security Act 2007 (EISA)

In 2007 the US Congress passed a law effective 1st July, 2008, called the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). This states that single output external power supplies of less than 250W manufactured on or after 1st July 2008 should meet maximum no load power consumption, and minimum active load efficiency limits with an input of 115VAC, 60Hz.

These requirements are identical to the 1st July, 2008 CEC limits meaning that any power supply meeting efficiency level IV will comply with the EISA requirements.

There are four exceptions included in the EISA legislation:

ErP Directive 2009/125/EC

This is a frame work Directive for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy related products. Parts of this are being enacted separately and there is a Commission Regulation No 278/2009 of 6th April 2009 which implements the Directive with regard to no load power and active efficiency of external power supplies. Article 15, paragraph 2(a) of the Directive states that the volume of sales should be indicatively more than 200,000 units per year within the EU, however we are seeing that some customers are requiring compliant product for much lower quantities than this. Paragraph 2 of the Commission Regulation defines that it is external power supplies used in office equipment and consumer electronics which are covered by the Directive.

California Energy Commission Appliance Efficiency Regulations

Before the US Congress passed the EISA in 2007 the requirement for meeting energy efficiency targets for external power supplies in the USA was largely voluntary except for in California where state law had made it mandatory. The EISA requirements are based on the CEC limits so both are the same.

Energy Star

Energy Star is a body which promotes energy efficiency through use of the energy star logo. Product which meets the minimum requirements can have the blue star logo applied (for external power supplies this is not allowed but the logo can be used on the datasheets). Meeting the Energy Star requirements is voluntary but there are increasing more countries around the world who are basing their mandatory requirements on the Energy Star limits.

Summary of Limits

Energy Star (Nov 1st, 2008 limits) & ErP (April 2011 limit)

In addition, Energy Star power supplies with an input power of 100 W and above must have minimum power factor of 0.9 at 115 VAC 60 Hz.

California Energy Commission (July 1st, 2008 limits), EISA (2007 limits) & ErP (April 2011 limit)

Measurement Technique

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has devised a procedure for measuring the no load power consumption and active mode efficiency of external supplies. This procedure has been adopted as an acceptable test method to demonstrate compliance with Energy Star, California Energy Commission, EISA and the ErP. The document can be found on the www.energystar.gov website and is titled “Test Method for Calculating the Energy Efficiency of Single-Voltage Ac-Dc and Ac-Ac Power Supplies” and is dated 11th August, 2004. This document sets out a standardized test method including test room conditions, accuracy of measuring instruments, quality of applied mains voltage and accuracy of load conditions. The document also details the information that is required for the test report.

Marking Requirements

To demonstrate compliance with the Energy Star and CEC requirements a mark must be placed on the product. The mark is made up of a Roman numeral and should now be a minimum of IV to show compliance with current requirements of CEC and EISA or a V to show compliance with Energy Star.

XP Power’s Strategy

XP Power is an Energy Star partner with an approved certification facility. All of our current catalog products meet the requirements of the CEC, EISA and current ErP no load power consumption and active efficiency limits. Many of our products also meet the requirements of Energy Star Level 5 or future ErP limits. Compliance to the requirements is detailed in the individual datasheets and in the following summary sheet. While it is apparent that not all applications and equipment that utilize our external power supplies need to comply with these environmental standards, we have a policy of continuous improvement of our product line in terms of no load power consumption and active efficiency with new product introductions complying with the latest requirements. We are also introducing very low standby power component power supplies with ever increasing efficiency to support energy efficiency in all types of equipment.

	Indicates level IV and compliance with CEC2008, EISA2007 & ErP Step 1
	Indicates level V and compliance with Energy Star, CEC2008, EISA2007 and ErP Step 2

AEB Series • 36-100 Watts • CEC2008 & EISA2007 Compliant • China Compulsory Certification (CCC) qualified		AEL Series • 15-80 Watts • CEC2008 & EISA2007 Compliant • Universal Input
AEF Series • 100-150 Watts • CEC2008 & EISA2007 Compliant • High Efficiency up to 93%		AMD150 Series • 150 Watts • CEC2008 & EISA2007 Compliant • Energy Star Level V
AML120 Series • 120 Watts • CEC2008 & EISA2007 Compliant ≥15 V • Energy Star Level V, ≥18 V		AML180 Series • 180 Watts • CEC2008 & EISA2007 Compliant • Energy Star Level V
PDM30 Series • 30 Watts • CEC2008 & EISA2007 Compliant ≥9 V • worldwide Medical Approvals		AEM Series • 60 Watts • CEC2008 & EISA2007 Compliant ≥12 V • Energy Star Level V, ≥15 V
AMM Series • 90-150 Watts • CEC2008 & EISA2007 Compliant • Worldwide Medical Approvals		VEH60 Series • 60 Watts • CEC2008 & EISA2007 Compliant • Energy Star Level V, ≥15 V
VEP08 Series • 8 Watts • CEC2008 & EISA2007 Compliant • Energy Star Level V		VEP15 Series • 15 Watts • CEC2008 & EISA2007 Compliant • Energy Star Level V
VEP24 Series • 24 Watts • CEC2008 & EISA2007 Compliant • Medical & ITE Approvals