ENERGY-EFFICIENT VIEWING PLEASURE

Another opportunity not to be missed is MEPS for televisions. Research on residential electricity consumption in South Africa conducted in 2021 shows that 92% of households have one television; 36% have two or more. Around 60% of households use their TVs for more than four hours a day. The number of televisions owned is projected to grow to approximately 28.4 million units by 2032, directly increasing the energy use from televisions.

Furthermore, as the size and definition of television screens increase, so does power consumption. Today, a high-definition tuner and screen will require more power than a standard-definition screen and tuner of the same size, irrespective of the signal being processed. A recent study on the subject estimated that by 2021, about 1.23TWh more energy would be used by televisions compared to 2017.

If MEPS are adopted, cumulative energy savings of approximately 2.6TWh could be realised by 2030. Over the same period, CO2 emissions in South Africa can be reduced by about 1.97 megatons.

It is envisaged that MEPS and labelling for televisions will be enforced through the DMRE-SANEDI partnership with the South African Bureau of Standards and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications during the 2023/24 fiscal year.

MEPS and energy labelling are among the most effective policy tools to promote energy efficiency in electrical appliances. Standards improve the energy performance of appliances manufactured and imported into South Africa, while an energy-efficiency label guides consumers’ buying choices.

Within the context of the ongoing electricity supply crisis, and South Africa’s international commitments to reducing GHG emissions, introducing MEPS for streetlighting and televisions is an opportunity not to be missed.