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Proposed Minimum Energy Performance Standards and Energy Labelling for Computer Monitors – COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – Select Council on Climate Change

Computer monitors account for around one quarter of the total energy use of computers. However, some computer monitors have not exhibited the general market trend towards greater energy efficiency. This may be attributable to a lack of consumer information on the relative energy efficiency of computer monitors, which in turn weakens supplier incentives to supply more efficient products.  The potential energy savings resulting from more efficient computer monitors are relatively minor at an individual level, however due to the size of the market the aggregate savings are likely to be substantial.  On 22 March 2013, the COAG Select Council on Climate Change announced new energy efficiency regulations under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012. The standards will apply to computers and computer monitors, and commence on 1 October 2013. The new standards are intended to drive consumer uptake of more efficient products through improved information – enhanced labelling – which better enables consumers to compare products. It also specifies a minimum energy performance standard. The design of the standard takes into account the position of Australia and New Zealand in the global market. Computers are global commodities and there is little variation between markets. The standards have therefore been set having regard to global markets.  Australian businesses are likely to experience compliance costs in terms of either registering products or having them tested for conformance with the standards. Businesses will also need to ensure they do not import non-complying products. These costs are likely to be passed on to consumers in the form of relatively modest price rises for these products. The removal of poorer energy performing computers and computer monitors from the market is expected to produce a net benefit to the community in terms of energy savings. A Regulation Impact Statement was prepared by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.