All electrical appliances would display information about power standby efficiency under a plan endorsed by state and federal energy ministers in Adelaide.
The information would be similar to current star ratings for electrical appliances, federal Industry and Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane said.
“Most appliances, particularly televisions and stereos, have a standby power mode,” Mr Macfarlane said.
“What we are seeing now is up to 12 per cent of household consumption, and up to three per cent of the national consumption of electricity, is now being wasted on standby power.
“Ministers agreed today to take forward a policy to their respective governments to have a national standard of one watt applied to standby power appliances.
“That is, instead of buying an appliance which may in this day and age consume up to 30 or 40 watts in a standby mode, that there be a purchase policy by governments that we only buy appliances with a standby power of less than one watt.
“The savings of that will be substantial, up to 2.5 per cent of the national consumption of electricity.”
Mr Macfarlane said the policy would push manufacturers to make appliances with one watt or less standby ratings.
“Based on what happens under that sort of market signal, we’ll then decide whether we need to mandate a lower wattage standby power rating,” he said.
“Under this proposal, energy efficiency and energy ratings will be on all appliances.
“By doing that, consumers will now be able to make their own decisions… in making sure that energy efficiency is right at the forefront.”
Energy ministers also agreed to introduce requirements that house energy efficiency ratings be declared when houses were sold, and to audit commercial premises for energy efficiency.
From Nine MSN