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UL Environment Proves Belkin Conserve Smart AV Surge Protector Reduces Home Entertainment System Energy Use

September 21, 2010 | gci clients

UL Environment announced today that Belkin’s Conserve Smart AV surge protector has earned the first-ever UL Environment Environmental Claims Validation (ECV) Mark for demonstrating energy saving capabilities.  The Conserve Smart AV surge protector achieves an energy savings of 44 per cent when used with typical home entertainment systems.

The Smart AV detects when a TV is turned off and automatically shuts down up to five connected devices, such as DVD players, stereos and other home entertainment components. UL Environment tested energy savings using the Smart AV with a mix of five Energy Star-rated and nonrated peripherals with different standby and idle mode capabilities. 

"Home energy costs in the United States add up to 241 billion dollars annually, with home electronics comprising five percent of those costs,"1 said Steve Wenc, president of UL Environment, Inc. “Belkin’s participation in UL Environment’s ECV program will help consumers identify products that will yield cost savings and have a lower environmental impact, which is a benefit to us all.”

According to the Canadian Centre for Energy, of the energy used in Canada’s residential energy sector, 13.1 per cent is consumed by household appliances.2 Annual energy savings using the Conserve Smart AV can range from six per cent for Energy Star-rated technologies to 78 per cent for older equipment and inefficient usage behaviours, like leaving the TV or stereo on when no one is watching.

“We are committed to developing easy-to-use products that help people save energy without having to change their lifestyles,” said Kevin Ashton, General Manager of Belkin. “UL Environment’s validation lends credibility to our energy performance claims, and makes it easier for people to make informed decisions when they shop.  Following our significant investments in early technology, this substantiation further supports our leadership in smart home energy.”

UL Environment applies a rigorous, independent process to the testing and auditing of environmental claims and allows manufacturers that successfully pass the tests to apply the UL Environment ECV service logo on product packaging and marketing materials.

Results and methodology for the Conserve Smart AV power strip validation are available at www.ulenvironment.com.

About UL Environment, Inc.

UL Environment (ULE) is a full-service environmental solutions company. UL Environment is helping support the growth and development of sustainable products, services and companies in the global marketplace through standards development, independent third-party assessment and certification and knowledge services. UL Environment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Underwriters Laboratories, a global leader in conformity assessment that has been testing products and writing standards for more than a century. UL Environment currently offers Environmental Claims Validation (ECV), a service testing and verifying manufacturers’ self-declared environmental claims and Sustainable Products Certification (SPC), a service evaluating and certifying products to accepted industry standards for environmental sustainability and Energy Efficiency Certification (EEC), a service testing and verifying product compliance with mandatory and voluntary energy efficiency regulations and programs. UL Environment is developing additional environmental standards, as well as training and advisory services to support organizations in the sustainable products and services industry. More information is available at www.ulenvironment.com.

About Belkin

Belkin is the recognized global leader in designing award-winning connectivity experiences. We connect people to technology through intuitive networking solutions and mobile accessories. Most recently, we are leading the Plug into Good™ movement with our line of Conserve energy management devices.

As a privately held company founded in California in 1983, we’ve experienced over 25 consecutive years of dramatic growth, and we remain committed to making significant strides in research and design.

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1 DOE – http://hes.lbl.gov/consumer/learn
2 Canadian Centre for Energy – http://www.centreforenergy.com/Consumer/Residential/AppliancesAndLighting/About.asp?page=1 

 

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