New energy labels for lamps from July: NEA

Singapore — From tomorrow (July 1), a new energy label illustrating different levels of energy efficiency on lamps can be found on its packaging.

The label will carry useful energy information on the different types of energy saving lamps in the market to help consumers make informed decisions that will best suit their needs, the National Environment Agency said in a media advisory today (June 30).

A consumer guide for understanding the new energy label for lamps. Photo: NEA

The new energy rating system for lamps will have three efficiency bands (one to three ticks). The highest efficiency level is denoted by three ticks and the lowest by a single tick.

In a household energy consumption survey conducted by NEA, lighting accounts for 4.3 per cent of total household consumption and it is also among the top five types of energy-consuming household appliances and devices.

Breakdown of household energy consumption by appliances/devices. Photo: Household Energy Consumption Study 2012

NEA also revealed that the three commonly used lamps in homes are the incandescent lamps (tungsten filament and tungsten halogen), compact fluorescent lamps with integrated ballasts (CFLi) and non-directional light emitting diode (LED) lamps. And from tomorrow, these lamps must meet the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and comply with Mandatory Energy Labelling (MELS) requirements.

Incandescent lamps need at least one-tick while CFLi and LED lamps need two-tick efficiency to meet the MEPS requirements.

To allow lamp importers, manufacturers and retailers to clear existing stock, products that have been supplied to the market before July 1 are exempted from the MELS and MEPS requirements for a year. ILI NADHIRAH MANSOR