Energy Efficiency Regulations

Digital Television Adapters

Final Bulletin on Developing the Standard

October 2011 – as published

ecoACTION

Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations (the Regulations) have been amended to include minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for digital television adapters (DTA). The Regulations apply to products imported or shipped inter-provincially for sale or lease in Canada. The amendment has been published in the Canada Gazette, Part II. This amendment comes into force six months after publication, on April 12, 2012.

Background

The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has established August 31, 2011 as the deadline for the transition from analogue to digital broadcast. In the Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2007-53, the commission outlines that over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts should be digital in all markets, with the possible exceptions in northern communities. As of August 31, 2011, consumers with analogue televisions who do not subscribe to cable or satellite services and who rely solely on over-the-air broadcasts for their television-viewing will need a digital television adaptor (DTA) in order to continue receiving television broadcasts. The transition to all-digital broadcasting in U.S. happened on June 12, 2009.

At the cut off date, household relying on OTA broadcasts will have to either buy a television with a built in digital TV tuner, or to buy a DTA.

The amendment was published in the Canada Gazette, Part 1 (Vol. 144, No. 24) on June 12, 2010.

No significant changes were made from the pre-published amendment.

Product Description

For the purposes of the Regulations, NRCan defines a digital television adapter as follows:

A digital television adapter means:

  • a type of terrestrial set-top box whose primary function is to receive, demodulate, decode, and convert Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) digital television broadcast service into National Television System Committee (NTSC) format (meant for a display and/or recording device designed for NTSC analog television broadcast service).
Energy Performance Test Procedure

CSA-C380-08: Test procedure for the measurement of energy consumption of set-top boxes (STBs) is referenced as the energy performance test procedure. The test procedure can be ordered from:

Canadian Standards Association
5060 Spectrum Way, Suite 100
Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 5N6
Phone: 1-800-463-6727
In Toronto, call 416-747-4000
Website: http://www.csa.ca

Energy Performance Standard

The following energy performance standards apply to DTA:

DTA Maximum Power Consumption
Mode Power consumption
Active mode ≤ 8 watts
Standby mode ≤ 1 watts
Effective Date

As of April 12, 2012, digital television adaptors will be required to meet the regulatory requirements if their manufacturing process is completed on or after January 1, 2010.

Labelling Requirements

There are no EnerGuide or information labelling requirements for this product.

Verification Requirements

DTA shall carry a verification mark indicating that the energy efficiency requirements have been verified. The verification mark is the mark of a Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accredited certification body that administers an energy performance verification program for this product.

Reporting Requirements
Energy Efficiency Reports

The energy efficiency report required for DTA will include the following information:

  • product name
  • manufacturer name
  • brand name
  • model number
  • name of the certification body that carried out the verification and authorized the verification mark that will appear on the product
  • power consumption in active mode
  • power consumption in standby mode
  • whether the product can automatically enter into standby mode

This report must be submitted, by the dealer, to NRCan before the product is imported into Canada or traded interprovincially for the first time.

Import Reports

A dealer who imports these products into Canada must include the following information on the customs release document:

  • type of product (i.e. digital television adaptor)
  • model number
  • brand name
  • address of the dealer importing the product
  • purpose for which the product is being imported (i.e. for sale or lease in Canada without modification; for sale or lease in Canada after modification to comply with energy efficiency standards; or for use as a component in a product being exported from Canada)
Harmonization

The minimum energy performance standards for DTA are harmonized with ENERGY STAR® criteria that came into effect in on January 31, 2007. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) has sunsetted this program, effective December 31, 2010.

Additional Information

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide stakeholders with a concise interpretation of the amendment, as they apply to Digital Television Adapters

Additional information on the Regulations including a current list of SCC accredited certification bodies can be found in the Guide to the Regulations on the OEE Web site at: /regulations/html/EERGuide_Part1.cfm

All correspondence should be forwarded to:

Mandace Montgomery
Senior Compliance Officer
Natural Resources Canada
Office of Energy Efficiency
580 Booth Street
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0E4
Phone: 613-992-3900
E-mail