Mr. Edward Mamadise
Chief Executive Officer
National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications
1 Dr Lategan Road
Pretoria
0181

RE: UPWARD REVISION OF MINIMUM ENERGY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS (MEPS) FOR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES UNDER THE DMRE’S STANDARD’S AND LABELLING (S&L) PROGRAMME

Dear Mr. Mamadise,

Globally, S&L Programmes optimise the energy savings of the MEPS allocated to each appliance by reviewing them every five years. This is to account for technology advances and to send the next signal to industry to continue investing in research to improve energy efficiency performance. More importantly, a failure to align with international S&L programmes which have revised their MEPS creates the opportunity for product suppliers to divert old technology to markets whose regulations are less onerous.

The MEPS for the appliances currently regulated under VC9006 and VC9008 were determined as an outcome of a techno-economic study and stakeholder participation undertaken in 2011 and 2012. In line with the above-mentioned practice, a second techno-economic supported by multiple stakeholder consultation meetings was completed between 2018 to 2019. In the interests of certainty, and to reduce regulatory effort, the DMRE proposed that for appliances whose MEPS revision is taking a two-step approach that this is reflected during this revision of the regulations – see refrigerators and freezers in the table below.

The DMRE kindly request, based on the outcomes of the industry consultation workshop held on the 14th of November 2019, the NRCS to revise the regulations as follows:

Appliance	Existing MEPS	New MEPS	Proposed Effective Date
Standby Power AV	1W	0.5W	Earliest possible start
Electric Ovens	Small = A Medium = A Large = B	Small = A Medium = A Large = A	N/A N/A 2021
Dishwashers	A	No change	N/A
Washer Dryers	A	No change	N/A
Washing Machines	A	A+	2022
Tumble Dryers	D	C	2021
Refrigerators	B A	A A+	2021 2026
Freezers	C A	B A+	2020 2024
Air Conditioners	B	A	2021

To ensure the minimum amount of disruption the DMRE requests that the South African Bureau of Standards (Standards Division) are duly consulted to ensure that the national standards for the above appliances reflect the latest international standards.

We look forward to your support in this matter to ensure the agreed upon timelines with industry are achieved so that the country and residential households can benefit from reduced energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Kind regards,

Xolile Mabusela

Director: Energy Efficiency Initiatives 

Date: 17/02/2020

Click here to view the original version of this letter.

In this final edition of S&L News we update you on the outcomes of the workshop to strengthen the Minimus Energy Performance Standards (MEPS); share a recent study on the projected impacts of the S&L project; and its representation at the 10th annual International Conference on Energy Efficiency in domestic Appliances and Labelling (EEDAL) which was held in China.

The above represents our accelerated actions as a project, both domestically and internationally; and point to a fantastic 2020 if we all pull together. So please, get and stay involved in the new year! And if you haven’t already, subscribe to the monthly S&L News here. Enjoy the summer holiday season and see you all in January.

Theo Covary
S&L Project Manager

S&L Project Workshop to Strengthen MEPS – Gateway to 2020

2019 is ending in exactly the same way that 2020 will begin: With the process of strengthening MEPS and redesigning the EE appliance label, well under way – representing a major milestone for the project. And I would like to personally thank the more than 50 participants who took a day out of their busy schedules to attend. With such a high number of attendees, which included ministries, national implementing partners, manufacturers, industry associations, consumer groups and other interested and affected parties, the consultation process was open and extensive.

WHY?

We all know that the current MEPS are outdated. The global benchmark is to revise every five years, in line with evolving technological capacity; and our revision is well past due. Which is why it was crucial to hold this multi-stakeholder workshop; to reach consensus on strengthening MEPS and changing the EE label – based on credible research and in-depth preparation by the project team and other national and international stakeholders, throughout the year.

WHAT WAS AGREED?

The table summarises the decisions taken at the workshop. 

WHAT NOW?

Now, that consensus on strengthening MEPS was reached at the workshop, the National Regulator for Compulsory Standards can proceed with drafting relevant amendments to VC9008. (Look out for status updates in 2020 editions). This also provides a seminal opportunity to apply our minds to ensure that as a whole, the most up-to-date standards are being applied throughout, by all.

UNIFORM STANDARDS & INDUSTRY PARTICIPATION

As discussed at the workshop, the responsibility of ensuring that the most recent and appropriate standards are being used by the program, does not lie solely with government. The industry has to participate more actively – for its own interest – because out of date standards have the potential to increase operational costs. For imported products, it may mean that additional testing is needed to meet specifications of the old standard, which have been removed or changed in the newer versions that have been adopted by major markets, such as the EU, China, Australia. Local manufacturers run the risk of their products not being accepted in international markets, with a report that tested to an out-of-date standard. So, for industry, it is both an obligation and of direct benefit, to participate in Standards Technical Committee meetings – and if not able or willing to do so directly, to be represented by industry associations. We look forward to much more concerted industry participation in 2020.

NEW LABEL; BETTER BUY

As stated in past editions of the S&L News, the project has been undertaking critical research, including detailed consumer studies, on updating the EE appliance label. The purpose of this is to bring it in line with the project’s massive progress since the label’s original conception and to give the consumer an even better, more user-friendly resource. Three primary considerations drive the process:

1. Adding a QR code that will allow consumers and the regulator immediate access to the online registration database; 
2. Assessing the feasibility of replacing the text on the label with infographics, in accommodating the linguistic diversity and multiple educational and literacy levels in South Africa.  
3. Rescaling the energy classes in line with developments in the EU, which entails removing the A+, A++ and A+++ classes and reverting to the original, more understandable, A-G scale.

WORKSHOP OUTCOMES AND PRESENTATIONS

Via several presentations, the workshop addressed global insights and key national perspectives in great detail; to unpack the process and rationale behind the revision of MEPS and the EE label. We would like to thank all presenters and participants for a very productive day, and if you were unable to attend, or were there but would like to revisit the presentations; these are available here.

A new study estimates the energy savings achievable by South Africa’s S&L program in the residential sector, (If regulations are passed in 2020 and effective in 2021/ 2022) include:

• 6 terawatt-hours (TWh) will be saved in 2030 and 9.5 TWh will be saved in 2040
• 3.7 megatons (Mt) of CO2 will be mitigated in 2030 and 5.8 Mt in 2040 
• 6.5 billion liters of water consumption avoided by 2030, representing approximately 100 liters per capita in 2030 
• 4 kilotons (kt) of particulate emissions will be avoided, as well as 4.3 Mt of sulfur oxides (SOx) and 23 kt of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in 2030.

Of much importance for the nation; consumers CAN reduce the operating costs of their electric equipment by R15.1 billion In 2030. 
 
[The study was developed based on a collaboration between USAID, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), South Africa Department of Mineral Resource and Energy, UNDP and SANEDI)]
 
The full report can be downloaded here

S&L Project Presentations at the Annual EEDAL International Conference

S&L Project representatives presented three papers to a global audience that included manufacturers, consumers, governments, utilities and international organisations, as well as representatives from academia and research organisations, at the EEDAL International Conference held in Jonan, China, from 6 to 8 November. EEDAL is aptly described as “an influential and recognised international event to discuss the progress achieved, and latest developments in energy efficiency technologies, behavioural aspects and policies”. It is expressly aimed at providing a synergistic setting, where global insights and experiences can be shared, and international collaborations and partnerships can be explored and established.

The three S&L Project papers were all well received, and it was a great opportunity to inform a broad cross-section of the international community about our project’s progress. These can be accessed here.

“The climate crisis has already been solved. We already have all the facts and solutions. All we have to do is to wake up and change.“
– Greta Thunberg

I would indeed hope that this truly spurs our collective action in this project; because the alternative is heart-breaking. “You say you love your children above all else and yet you are stealing their future in front of their very eyes”, Thunberg stated at COP 24 a year ago. For many of us as adults and often as parents, it serves as a stark reminder that unless we are part of the solution, we are the problem.

I look forward to us all being part of the solution together, and to seeing many of you at the Revision of MEPS Industry Workshop in Sandton on the 14thof November. If you haven’t already, kindly register below. Thank you as always, for your efforts.

Theo Covary
S&L Project Manager

Strengthening of MEPS & Revising Energy Label

As already stated in previous communication, existing MEPS in South Africa were set during a stakeholder consultation process in 2011; eight years ago. Today, technological advancement makes these truly outdated, and their strengthening an urgent priority – particularly given the globally accepted benchmark for MEPS revision of every five years. At the same time, the strengthening of MEPS and the recent results of our in-depth consumer study (see story later in this issue), also point to the need to revise the existing EE label accordingly. This provides a seminal opportunity to update our current label in line with the strengthened MEPS, and to also incorporate interactive information tools for consumers, like QR codes.

Ultimately, strengthening of MEPS and revising the energy label, are two of the most significant developments in our project this year; and we look forward to introducing and discussing them with all relevant industry stakeholders at the Industry Workshop on 14 November. If you have not done so already; kindly register here and to view the draft agenda, click here.

Cutting-Edge Consumer Lighting Communications Campaign

Its objectives are to educate all South Africans about sustainable lighting and to increase awareness around key concepts like wattage and brightness. It aims to highlight how labelling assists with this; while also generating vibrant public participation through incentives and a competition – providing key statistical results for future use by the project. To view current consumer communications on lighting please click here and look out for details of the year-end drive in the December edition of S&L News.

Preliminary results of the recent consumer study commissioned by the project are encouraging:

• More, rather than less, consumers of large electrical appliances recognise the label; and most are motivated to buy as far away from the bottom of the energy scale as their budget allows.
• Some will consider saving to invest in a higher rated appliance with long-term electricity and water savings; and evidence of this choice is now emerging in the lamp category, as more and more consumers see LED as cheaper in the long run.
• Most often, once research participants understood the role of the energy label as an access point to information, their view shifted from seeing it as a mere signpost to considering it a useful tool.
• The idea of accessing relevant model information via QR code, such as instructions, dimensions, features, energy rating, etc. also strongly resonated – appealing beyond just younger and tech-savvy consumers.
• Initial reactions to preliminary infographic concepts instead of text only have also been positive; and the next stage of research will be looking at this more in-depth.

(More consumer insights will be shared in the following issue.)

SA Hosts First Ever IEA Energy Efficiency Training Week in Sub-Saharan Africa

The training covered energy efficiency policy in five focus areas – Appliances and Equipment, Industry, Buildings, Cities, Indicators and Evaluation. Having attended the Appliances and Equipment stream, key members of our team found the training to be highly relevant and stimulating – strengthened by robust discussions and the views shared by the delegates from all over Africa.

If you have not done so already, subscribe to the monthly S&L News here and find past editions by clicking here.

“We already have all the facts and solutions. All we have to do is to wake up and change.”

– Greta Thunberg; TEDx Stockholm; December 2018

We are simply not doing enough, and the consequences are there for all to see, – as we conveniently refer to natural disasters when in truth, they are man-made.

The United Nations, driven by the global youth and the fearless Greta Thunberg, hosted a summit in September to refocus country and private sector commitments, a summary of the outcomes can be found here. I implore you to read it! – it is only 2 ½ pages and sends a strong message.

The entire project team looks forward to collaborating with you in the months ahead.

Theo Covary
S&L Project Manager

Strengthening of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS); Revision of Energy Label

Time to strengthen MEPS

Technology has evolved since current MEPS were first introduced, which now means that their upward revision is not only possible but necessary. Indeed, international experience shows that MEPS should, on average, be reviewed every five years, while our MEPS were set during a stakeholder consultation process in 2011, eight years ago.

Revising the Energy Label

The strengthening of MEPS also necessitates the associated revision of the energy label – providing an excellent opportunity to incorporate innovations into the label’s redesign, like QR Codes It also allows us to apply key consumer insights in making labels more understandable and user-friendly, such as the use of infographics instead of text. Consumer and industry research commenced in September.

Updating the General Guide to Energy Efficiency Labelling

With the significant revisions of MEPS and labelling now taking place, updating the General Guide to Energy Efficient Labelling is vital – particularly since it’s a collective resource, providing an all-encompassing overview of energy efficiency label compliance in South Africa. Its updated future content truly depends on all our combined input! And we would welcome any contribution, comments, recommendations or suggestions you may have.

The current guide can be accessed here, and any input you may have can be addressed to ras@theguild.co.za

All Stakeholders Are Invited

The workshop on 14 November is geared at discussing the above developments in great detail with you; and provides a seminal opportunity for your questions and/or concerns to be addressed. An invitation to participate was sent out to all stakeholders in September – and includes the ability to submit questions and/or comments prior to the time so that they can be properly addressed on the day. If you have not done so already, kindly access the invitation, RSVP and submit your pre-workshop input by clicking here.

The Economic Case for the Rapid and Urgent Introduction of MEPS for Lighting

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Technology Neutral Regulations to Introduce Energy Performance Standards for General Service Lamps in South Africa

A comprehensive cost-benefit analysis (CBA) was recently completed, and a detailed report drafted, on the introduction of MEPS for general service lamps in South Africa. The CBA considered input from market studies, stakeholder consultations and sample lamp testing; in addition to economic modelling to assess the potential impact of MEPS.

It convincingly proves the vast potential advantages of such regulations; while also outlining the huge disadvantages of delays in their implementation. Simultaneously, the report contains key concerns raised by industry, as well as detailed recommendations for improvement in taking the initiative forward and realising its enormous benefits to all South Africans.

To read a detailed but concise executive summary of the report, kindly click here.

“We showed that we are united and that we, young people, are unstoppable.”
– Greta Thunberg UN Youth Climate Summit,
NYC, 21 September 2019.

DEAR STAKEHOLDERS,

Strengthening of minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and revision of energy label

VC9008, which sets the compulsory energy performance specifications for specific residential appliances, was introduced in 2014 and came into effect in 2015 and 2016. With your valued support and cooperation significant progress has been achieved by the Standards and Labelling (S&L) programme in yielding large electricity savings for the country and households. Our research has found that the mandatory energy label has been well received by consumers who have found it to be necessary and useful.

International experience shows that MEPS should, on average, be reviewed every five years. The current MEPS were set during a stakeholder consultation process in 2011, over eight years ago. During this period technology advances are delivering appliances with much improved energy performance making many of the MEPS obsolete and necessitating this revision. A study to review the MEPS was undertaken in 2018 and the recommendations were presented to industry – the reports can be accessed here.

The revised MEPS are:

Simultaneously a consumer research study to review the design of the energy label has recently commenced. The rationale and objectives of the study, are:

1. The introduction of the QR code on the label which will allow consumers and NRCS and SARS test inspectors to access product information through a smart phone;
2. To test whether infographics can be used to replace text. This has been used effectively in the EU where they are also faced with the challenges of multiple official languages;
3. Due to technology advances the label has become outdated for certain appliances, such as AC, necessitating a complete redesign; and
4. The project, in line with developments in the EU, will be rescaling the energy classes to eliminate A+++, A++, and A+. More information about the EU approach can be found here

A stakeholder meeting will be held on the 13th of November (provisional date) with the Department of Energy, the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), the dti and SABS. To ensure a constructive meeting where we can answer questions and concerns, we invite you to complete a questionnaire by clicking on the link below. Please do so as soon as possible to provide us with an opportunity to group and analyse them so we can respond to them at the workshop.

We look forward to your participation. Click here for a signed hard copy of this letter.

To ensure your participation at the stakeholder to be held on the 13th of November 2019 (provisional), please complete the below form.

This study focused on the impacts of the regulation on the industry and input received from industry stakeholders – as explained in last month’s newsletter. Interested parties have until 12 September to comment – should you wish to do so, kindly email Langa Jele on Langa.Jele@nrcs.org.za.

The S&L project will now turn its attention to the upwards revision of the MEPS for the appliances falling under VC9008 as presented to industry stakeholders earlier this year. Please look out for invitations or contact me directly if you have any questions.

As Spring now arrives and the season of rejuvenation begins, the project team looks forward to working with renewed energy to build on what we’ve already achieved together with you.

Theo Covary
S&L Project Manager

We dedicated the previous edition to the project’s Residential Efficient Lighting Programme.
Here we highlighted the following:

• The need for ongoing public awareness about energy-efficient lighting.
• The need for relevant insight that enables the consumer to make appropriate buying decisions.

We also elaborated on our intention to recycle 1.2 million illegal lamps seized by the regulator as part of the programme.
 
More than a million recycled bulbs. Next target: 1,2 million!
We are pleased to announce that we have broken our million-globe mark! That means we are approaching 1.1 million bulbs now being handed over for recycling at special events around the country. With another 180 000 following suit in the Western Cape, we are well on our way to breaking new records. Project supplier e-Waste Africa is handling the collection and recycling nationally. No crushing is done at the collection sites, as the process requires specialist equipment at the recycling factory in Pietermaritzburg. Here, a special destruction function was held in mid-August, which also included a tour of the facility. This unique event was attended by representatives from various government departments and stakeholders.
 
The recycling process entailed the following:

• All loads were counted at the collection sites. Bulbs were recounted after transportation and verified at the recycling facility. The NRCS and SARS supervised the entire process.
• Subsequently, packaging was removed, and the bulbs were immediately recycled.
• All by-products were beneficiated and reused, and all packaging, including cardboard and corrugated boxes, were also recycled.

Our consumer awareness and education campaign continues. Further online communication elements have been created and released via various social media platforms to herald the arrival of Spring. These can be accessed via the links below. These elements focus on educating potential buyers about lumens as deciders of globe brightness and the energy-inefficiency of high wattage bulbs.

Finally, CLASP recently issued a request for information (ROI), to identify consultants to support policy work in Sub-Saharan Africa.
They will assist in developing and implementing standards for both on-grid appliances and off-grid solar energy equipment. The RFI is
open indefinitely and can be accessed via the link above.

“We have to prepare our cities for the increasing scarcity of
resources by increasing their energy efficiency.”
– Mathis Wackernagel

Project Manager’s Message

Welcome to the 7th edition of the S&L News.

As we pass the halfway point of 2019, the S&L programme continues to pick up momentum; and you’ll find it all here: From news about international visits and collaborations to feedback on key initiatives, the results of critical studies and “dealing crushing blows” to energy inefficient lighting. So feel free to share with colleagues; and please subscribe if you haven’t already.

First up, two colleagues from NRCS and I had the privilege of joining 400 global participants at the highly regarded eceee 2019 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency. It was held in France (3 to 8 June) with the overall objective of expanding the boundaries of energy efficiency policy and accepted practices in Europe and the world. Here, the S&L Project presented a paper, co-authored with associates from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California and the University of the Witwatersrand, on the rollout of the Residential Efficient Lighting Programme in South Africa. The presentation was well received, offers an excellent bird’s eye view of the initiative and can be found here

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Theo Covary
S&L Project Manager

The relevant cost benefit analysis, (a key requirement before any legislation is passed), is almost complete; and indeed shows that the benefits to the nation are staggering (the report will be made available in the next newsletter.)  

Then, together with the media campaign, the process of responsibly crushing and recycling inadequate products according to global best practices also got off to a flying start.

In Nelspruit alone, 58 000 illegally imported incandescent lamps (ICL) seized by the Regulator were collected for crushing – with collection now moving to Durban, then PE and CT.  

In total, 1.2 million incandescent and CFL globes will be crushed over the coming period; and we will continue driving public uptake of energy efficient lighting through multiplatform online communication.

Makro Retail Campaign Successfully Concludes

The project’s first combined in-store and online retail campaign drew to a close on the 3^rd of June. Launched in partnership with Makro in celebration of May as Energy Month, the promotion had a national footprint and gave consumers a R400 discount on the purchase of “best in class” appliances. The results were overwhelmingly positive as can be seen in the report, available here.

The public report about the impact of VC9006 on domestic hot water storage tanks – and the compliance concerns involved – is now complete and available for scrutiny. 

The report stems from a study by the Centre for Renewable & Sustainable Energy Studies at Stellenbosch University, commissioned by the UNDP, which combined two stakeholder workshops, in-depth desktop research and key stakeholder interviews. Now, the resultant report covers the full scope of issues, from the pragmatic to the regulatory – critical insights on the actions industry and government could consider to address them.

The Shared “Sead” of Global Success

The S&L Project now features on the SEAD website – the “Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment” initiative – a “voluntary collaboration among governments, working to promote the manufacture, purchase, and use of energy-efficient appliances, lighting, and equipment worldwide.” The S&L team also participated in a SEAD-facilitated webinar with representatives from the EU and Ghana, as part of the global dialogue, discourse and active partnership that the initiative promotes.

The webinar can be heard on https://superefficient.org/events/spex-label-communications and the article on the SEAD website regarding South Africa can be found on https://superefficient.org/news/2019/highlight-on-south-africa

Finally; please remember to subscribe to this newsletter if you haven’t already and look out for Edition 8 in August.

Project Manager’s Message

Welcome to the 6th edition of the S&L News.

We have a full newsletter this month with lots of news, so I will keep my message short. May has been an eventful month, the highlight being our engagement with the lighting industry working group for the introduction of mandatory technical specifications for general service lamps. As we are still consolidating the comments received, we will only be able to provide an update in the next edition – suffice to say that significant progress was made, and we now move to public comment and then a public consultation workshop. The second industry meeting worth mentioning was our consultation with the appliance industry to get their inputs and comments on the technical study being undertaken on the feasibility of a recycling plant.

Please feel free to share this with interested colleagues. And if you’re new to the newsletter, hit the subscribe button to receive your monthly issue.

Theo Covary
S&L Project Manager

May was Energy Month and the S&L Project took the opportunity to increase consumer awareness by partnering with Makro for a new retail-based campaign – a newsletter explaining the initiative was sent out earlier this month. Both online and instore consumers were able to benefit from the R400 discount being offered on selected energy efficiency appliances. The campaign will run until June 04. Access the campaign here.

Crushing & Disposal of Illegal Lamps

Over the last couple of years, South Africa has experienced an influx of lighting products that do not meet the minimum mandatory energy performance, quality and safety standards. This points to our market being targeted by international manufacturers to dump products. Although illegal lamps may be cheaper, the hidden cost to the public when purchasing and using substandard products is enormous, in terms of high electricity usage, regular replacements due to early failures as well as safety hazards.

The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) is responsible for the surveillance of the market, identification, confiscation, and destruction of non-compliant products to protect the local industry and the consumers. The NRCS is currently holding over 1.2 million confiscated, non-compliant incandescent and CFL lamps. The S&L project will be paying for these illegal lamps to be destroyed over the next three months to prevent them from resurfacing in the market. This crushing follows shortly after 1.3 million confiscated lamps were destroyed by the NRCS in the last half of 2018. The majority of Illegal lamps are confiscated at ports and borders across the country. Considering the magnitude of the challenge, the dti, the NRCS and DoE are working with international experts to put in place more effective measures to regulate this market.

Review of S&L Guidelines

We have appointed a design team to revise and update the S&L Guideline. Work will start soon. If you have noticed any errors or have any comments, please send them to Ras Ramodimo ras@theguild.co.za

Air Conditioner Study

As prescribed by VC9008, AC suppliers have successfully shifted to a Class B minimum energy efficiency rating. To understand the progress and plot a way forward, the S&L Project finalised a study “A Market Assessment of Residential and Small Commercial Air Conditioners in South Africa”. The study has highlighted technology shifts, such the dominance of reverse cycle units and inverter control. It has also estimated the market size to be 350,000 units/year, with 91% found to be of a split type.

AC units are different from the other appliances regulated under the S&L programme as more than 60% are purchased by commercial, not residential customers. Building on the data and international lessons, 12 interventions have been recommended; regulation advancements (e.g. including SEER metrics for inverter units), compliance strengthening (e.g. building a local AC test centre) and market response enhancements (label inclusion in commercial sales). The two reports provide much needed information about AC’s in South Africa and will be a primary input to the National Cooling Plan which is to be developed later this year.

“We must start…rebuilding our cities around energy efficiency and human needs, rather than around the car and wasted energy”

– Jay Inslee