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3.3 Comparative Product Testing and Consumer Information Services
by Connie Lau, Head of Research and Survey Division, Hong Kong Consumer Council, Hong Kong, China
3.3.1 Introduction
For many years, comparative product testing has been used as a tool to provide consumer information on the energy consumption and energy efficiency of appliances. Recently, energy efficiency labelling, standards and incentives have appeared and are set to transform the market. In this paper, we will share our experience in the Hong Kong, China about consumer product testing and the energy efficiency labelling of appliances.
Comparative product testing is one of the foremost activities of consumer organizations worldwide. Results are widely circulated and accepted by both consumers and manufacturers. Comparative product tests have for a long time now played the important role of enabling consumers to make an informed choice regarding their purchase and use of products. For electrical appliances, energy efficiency is probably the most consistently tested attribute and is a useful guide to the consumer in evaluating different makes and models.
Modern energy efficiency measures like labelling also provide vital information about products. Product testing by an independent consumer body remains the most objective method of comparing the energy consumption of appliances. The discussion in this paper will be largely based on the Hong Kong, China experience of consumer product testing and energy efficiency labelling of appliances.
3.3.2 Trends of energy end-use in Hong Kong, China
According to the government of Hong Kong, China, statistics on energy end-use for the years 1984-1998, the energy use of space conditioning has the highest increase in the period: about 500 per cent increase in 14 years. It has overtaken cooking as the largest energy end-use after 1994.
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3.3.3 Consumer Council tests
Anticipating the increase of energy use, Hong Kong Consumer Council (HKCC) has been conducting energy efficiency and energy consumption tests on appliances since the late seventies. Among the major appliances, room air conditioners are tested most regularly, with the first test published in 1978. Since then, we have published 10 other test reports on air conditioners with different cooling capacities. There was a variety of samples, including window units, split systems, room coolers and heat pumps. We have also compared the energy efficiency and energy consumption of a wide range of other appliances including cooker hoods, compact fluorescent lamps, dehumidifiers, induction cookers, refrigerator-freezers, washing machines, washer-dryers and water heaters.
3.3.3.1 Major appliances - major energy use
We believe that if consumers can make informed choices, the energy saving potential is great. Our tests on refrigerator-freezers and air-conditioners have shown beyond doubt that the accumulated savings in electricity consumption will be truly substantial if all consumers choose the more efficient models - so much so that the accumulated savings between the least efficient model and the best model are sometimes enough to pay for a new machine.
Table
3.3.1 Energy saving potential of informed choices
-- room air conditioners
3.3.3.2 Small appliances energy consumption
The energy end-use statistics of the government of Hong Kong, China, show that the energy use of products in the "others" category has a rate of increase comparable to that of space conditioning. It is believed that small appliances like dehumidifiers have played a significant part in this increase. In March 2000, HKCC published a comparative test on 18 dehumidifiers discovered that the energy saving potential could be as high as 46 per cent. If consumers chose the most efficient model instead of the least, they could have saved 46 per cent of their electricity bill, removing the same amount of water from the humid air. Given the humid climate with relative humidity over 75 per cent most of the year in Hong Kong, China, the energy consumption and efficiency of dehumidifiers will need to be addressed. The United States of America has, in fact, recently introduced Energy Star labelling for dehumidifiers. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that dehumidifiers can consume up to 1,000 kWh/year, which is as much as a refrigerator. The EPA predicts that if all residential dehumidifiers met their Energy Star guidelines, they would save American consumers over US$ 40 million in energy costs and prevent emissions equivalent to 470,000 cars annually by 2010.
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3.3.3.3 Standby energy consumption
The Consumer Council is watchful of the seemingly insignificant energy consumption of the “standby” mode of electrical products. The standby energy consumption is therefore an increasingly important test item for our comparative tests on products such as television sets, video cassette recorders and AC/DC adaptors. The annual cost of electricity wasted in Hong Kong, China homes is estimated to be in tens of millions of US dollars. (Table 3.3.2)
Table
3.3.2 Standby energy consumption and estimated annual
costs
3.3.4 Consumer magazine
A principal task of the Council is to publish a monthly magazine CHOICE which provides a regular outlet of information, advice and viewpoints on all matters affecting consumer interests. Published in Chinese, CHOICE features in a comprehensive format the results and conclusions of comparative product testing and research including in-depth studies and surveys. Regular columns are also published dealing with such topics as health and nutrition, consumer complaints, hazardous products, environmental concerns and the global consumer movement. Despite keen competition in the magazine market and the economic downturn, the sales of CHOICE for the year 2001 averaged 26,000 copies per issue, of which some 50 per cent were sold through subscriptions and the remainder through news-stands, supermarkets, convenience stores and bookshops.
CHOICE has unfailingly attracted intense media interest ever since its debut in 1976. To facilitate media coverage, a news conference is held for the launch of each issue. Information is given in response to media requests, and CHOICE articles of specific interest can be given greater coverage as required, with regular television and radio programmes.
CHOICE has maintained its enormous influence as the authoritative source of technical-based consumer information and guidance to the consumer public. Its reach is far beyond its readers: through the very prominent coverage in the media, CHOICE penetrates virtually all sectors of the community and households throughout Hong Kong, China.
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3.3.5 Effect on sales of appliances
CHOICE does not accept any commercial advertising. In addition to copyright protection, Section 20 of the Consumer Council Ordinance strictly prohibits the exploitation of the Council’s name or its research information for commercial and promotional purposes. Section 20 is essential in protecting the independence and impartiality of the Council in its evaluation of goods and services available to consumers in the marketplace.
There have been numerous attempts to use the Consumer Council’s test results to promote products (e.g.; room air conditioners, induction cookers, electric fans). Those related to room air conditioners invariably claimed to be the most energy efficient model rated by the Council. Notwithstanding that most of these advertisements are misleading and illegal, this indicates that the traders generally accept that the Council's test findings will influence the consumer.
3.3.6 Energy labelling scheme -- achievements and challenges
There are two types of labelling schemes: comparison and endorsement. Comparison labelling programmes provide consumers with information to compare all products within a given categoryS. The Energy Efficiency Labelling Schemes (EELSs) of Hong Kong, China mostly belong to this type. Endorsement or recognition type labelling schemes identify and endorse those products that meet a specified high efficiency standard. The Energy Star logo you see on your computer products belongs to this type. The EELS for compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) of Hong Kong, China also belong here.
Labelling schemes can be mandatory or voluntary. Hong Kong, China EELSs are voluntary schemes, whereas most of the comparison type energy labels in Australia, Canada, the European Union and the United States are mandatory.
In March 1992, the government of Hong Kong, China endorsed a recommendation made by the Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee to introduce a voluntary energy labelling system for household electrical appliances. The Electrical & Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) launched the EELS for refrigerators, which commenced in June 1995. Following that EMSD launched the EELS for air conditioners, which commenced in June 1996.
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Currently there are nine energy labelling schemes for the following categories of electrical products: compact fluorescent lamps, electric storage water heaters, electric tumble dryers, multifunction devices, photocopiers, refrigerators, rice cookers, room air conditioners and washing machines. Since the schemes are voluntary, it usually takes quite some time before manufacturers are convinced that they should join a new scheme. At the moment, manufacturers have participated in only six of the nine schemes.
In September 1997, there were only two refrigerator models and 10 air conditioner models registered with the EELS. In 1998, the Government announced a plan to introduce a Demand Side Management (DSM) scheme in which subsidies would be given to utility customers if they bought certain types of appliances with EELS labelling. Because of this announcement, the numbers of products registered with the EELS increased dramatically to 352 air conditioners, 455 compact fluorescent lamps, 158 refrigerators and 49 washing machines, by March 2001.
3.3.6.1 Enhancing credibility of energy labels
With voluntary schemes and especially in the initial stage when many manufacturers are not participating, the benefits of the schemes are limited. The consumers might not be able to tell whether a product with a label is more efficient than one without. The credibility of energy labels relies on the accuracy of the label information, which is mostly derived from tests commissioned by the manufacturers themselves using samples they provide. It also relies on the honesty of manufacturers to test their new product again if the model is modified.
In March 2001, the HKCC published a test on refrigerators. Of the 12 samples tested, six bore energy labels - one Grade 1 and five Grade 2 (the smaller the number, the more energy efficient) - issued under the EELS. According to our test results, of the five samples bearing Grade 2 label, two were found to be unsatisfactorily warm. For the other three samples, their results did not match the labelled grading on energy efficiency. The worst model would cost at least HK$ 310 (US$ 40) a year more in electricity than indicated by its label.
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3.3.6.2 Regular monitoring
In Hong Kong, China, the administration monitors the truthfulness of energy labels by sampling and check tests. If discrepancies are found, manufacturers are usually asked to explain. If they fail to satisfy the administration, they would be required to amend the energy label information. However, there seems to be a lack of legislative support for the administration and no penalties are given.
In Australia where they have mandatory labelling schemes, there are penalties for manufacturers found to have overrated energy efficiency on their product labels. As a result, some manufacturers now deliberately place conservative claims on their products to ensure that they never have compliance problems.
3.3.6.3 Display of labels
One of the inadequacies of the EELS in Hong Kong, China, comes from the lack of legal backup for the scheme. At present retailers can choose whether to display the energy label on an appliance in their shop. While there is very useful legislation in some jurisdictions like Canada and the United States, in Hong Kong, China there is no legal requirement for the retailers to display the energy labels.
3.3.6.4 Reviewing of labelling schemes
When we visit the retailers’ showrooms, we would notice that if there were any energy labels on the appliance, they would be either Grade 1 (the most energy efficient) or Grade 2. Grade 3 labels are seldom seen. This is incompatible to the original definition of our comparison type labelling schemes in which Grade 3 represents the average of the market. This could be a shortfall of the voluntary scheme -- manufacturers only participate when their products are energy efficient.
This can also be explained by the fact that the grading criteria are usually based on past statistics of appliance performance. Our EELS for air conditioners was introduced in 1996 and technology has improved significantly since then. In the air conditioner test that HKCC published in 2001, all 15 samples bore Grade 1 energy labels (i.e.; the most energy efficient of the five grades). The comparative nature of the comparative energy labelling schemes is no longer evident. We believe that regular updating and reviewing of the schemes using new statistics is essential for the consumers to differentiate between the products of different efficiencies.
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3.3.6.5 Improving testing standards
Another challenge for energy labelling schemes is that these schemes and their related standards usually allow a fairly large margin of error in the claimed energy efficiency, up to 15 per cent for some appliances (e.g.; in refrigerators and freezers). With reports titled “Authorities Permit Abuses”, some consumer associations are now calling for a review of this generous tolerance.
3.3.7 International cooperation - benefits and challenges
3.3.7.1 International joint tests
Since its early days, the Consumer Council has benefited greatly from international product testing projects. In 1980, the Council published its first joint test which was coordinated by the then European Testing Group, which became the International Consumer Research & Testing Limited (ICRT) in 1990. ICRT is now an association of 25 consumer organizations from 23 countries worldwide. The principal aim of ICRT is to promote cooperation in consumer research and testing among its members and other organizations concerned with consumer matters. Members of ICRT are independent of commerce, industry and party politics and are free from government influence. ICRT members act exclusively in the interest of consumers, do not take advertising, and are independent of commerce, industry and political parties.
Over the years, HKCC has cooperated with ICRT in a wide range of projects (e.g.; cassette tapes, digital video camcorders, cameras, flashes, computer printers and cars). However, poor brand overlap has prevented very good consumer response. Designs of major appliances are usually very different in different regions. For instance, air conditioning is relatively uncommon in European homes; and some Australians have never seen a dehumidifier. These underlying problems have prevented cross-region joint tests on major appliances.
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top Performance test facilities for major appliances are scarce if not absent in Hong Kong, China. As such, HKCC commissions tests to our sister organizations such as the Australian Consumers Association, the Consumers’ Association of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Consumentenbond of the Netherlands. Appliances tested include washing machines, washer-dryers, television sets, refrigerator-freezers, room air conditioners, vacuum cleaners and video cassette recorders. As with the multi-lateral joint tests, when our sister organizations do not have the facilities, laboratories within their country may be commissioned to carry out the tests under their close supervision.
3.3.7.2 International/regional product standards
International cooperation in relation to product standards is increasingly important for countries in this region. At present, international standards are largely drafted with the influence of big manufacturers who come from the developed countries. Our experience tells us that our regional climate conditions and usage patterns can differ substantially from the “International Standard”. One of the most vivid examples is the wash temperature for washing machine testing. Before 1998, the temperature for main wash as specified by IEC for cotton was 90oC, which was unrealistically high for most countries in the developing world. It was only in 1998 that lower wash temperature options were provided in the revised IEC standard. We believe that standardization bodies should work with consumer organizations from every part of the world if truly "international" product standards are to be developed.
3.3.8 Way forward
There is room for further improvement in current energy efficiency labelling schemes. We, as consumer organizations, will continue to conduct energy testing on appliances and to work with the administrations of such schemes with a view to improving energy efficiency and reducing the energy use of home appliances.
References
Website of the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), Hong Kong SAR Government, China: <http://www.emsd.gov.hk/emsd/>
Hong Kong Consumer Council, “CHOICE” magazine reports and press releases, the latter are available on the HKCC web site: <http://www.consumer.org.hk/>
United States of America Environmental Protection Agency web site:
<http://yosemite1.epa.gov/estar/consumers.nsf/content/dehumid.htm>
J Duffy, IIEC, United States, Energy Labelling, Standards and Building Codes: A Global Survey and Assessment for Selected Developing Countries, March 1996
N Crothers, Australian Consumers’ Association, Energy Labelling - Testing and Monitoring, Presentation – United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and Hong Kong Consumer Council Seminar on “Energy Labelling for Home Appliances”, Hong Kong, China, March 1997
Consumer associations in Europe, Authorities Permit Abuses, consumer magazines: Altro Consumo (Italy), OCU-Compra Maestra (Spain), Pro Teste (Portugal) and Test Achats (Belgium), May 1999
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