EPA Authorizes Temporary DAM Test Procedure for ‘Hospitality’ TVs

Bowing to industry pressure, the EPA announced late Tuesday that it will allow the use of a temporary test procedure for measuring “download acquisition mode” (DAM) energy use for TVs used in hotels, restaurants and other “hospitality” settings. CEA told that agency that the Rovi Corp. test procedure incorporated in Energy Star version 4.1 would keep hospitality TVs from qualifying for certification (CED April 30 p4).

The EPA said it will temporarily allow use of a CEA-developed DAM test method for hospitality TVs until it finalizes a test protocol for those TVs. Unlike Rovi, which covers only DAM use for updating its electronic program guide, the CEA test method is for TVs using DAM for EPGs, TV setup data, channel map updates and firmware updates. In a letter to stakeholders, Katharine Kaplan, Energy Star program manager, acknowledged that the Rovi test procedure is not appropriate for “units destined for hospitality settings."

Only TVs that meet the definition of hospitality sets in version 4.1 can use the CEA test procedure, Kaplan said. They are TVs with a control port for bi-directional communication and have activated “hospitality protocol software” for direct access to video-on-demand systems or a digital media player designed for “hospitality-specific applications.” All other TVs with DAM mode must qualify using the Rovi test protocol, she said. A company seeking to qualify hospitality TVs must submit a lab report that includes the results of DAM testing using the CEA protocol.

The alternative test procedure will expire June 28, Kaplan said. “Over the next two months, EPA will work with stakeholders to finalize a test procedure and integrate it into the Energy Star television specification.” If no test procedure is approved after June 28, “hospitality televisions that use an EPG other than the Rovi EPG will not be eligible” to qualify for Energy Star, she said.

The agency will host a conference call on Monday to discuss the temporary DAM test procedure. The deadline for comments on the alternative test procedure is May 21.