EPA Extends Use of Temporary TV DAM Test Procedure

TVs used in hotels, restaurants and other “hospitality” settings can continue to use for Energy Star 4.1 qualification a temporary CEA-developed test procedure to measure energy used in the download acquisition mode, the EPA said. The temporary test procedure was set to expire July 31. DAM refers to the power used when the TV is downloading things like channel listing information for the electronic program guide when the device is “not producing a sound or picture.”

The EPA is seeking comment on a draft of the CEA test procedure that includes changes proposed by the agency. It will take stakeholder comments on the edited draft until Aug. 16 and expects to release a final CEA test procedure for “immediate use” on Aug. 23, it said. The finalized testing tool will be incorporated into the Energy Star program, it said. The EPA sanctioned the use of the temporary CEA test procedure in May after TV makers complained that the agency’s adoption of a Rovi DAM test procedure will shut out hospitality TVs from qualifying for Energy Star (GED May 12 p1).

The agency wants to make the new testing tool applicable to all TVs with DAM, it said in changes proposed to the CEA test procedure. In the next revision of the Energy Star specification, it will include a modified definition of DAM that the CEA has included in its DAM test procedure, the agency said. It also wants to add new definitions for “infrequent downloads” and “frequent downloads,” the agency said. Any DAM download that happens “no more than four times per year and has duration of less than six hours per instance” is an infrequent download, it said. TV firmware updates, TV setup data downloads and Rovi EPG “setup state” are examples of infrequent downloads, it said.

The EPA will include “guidance” on “power overhang” in the next Energy Star revision, it said. “EPA views power overhang as an extension of on mode,” it said, suggesting its removal from the CEA DAM test procedure.