Governments and organizations around the world are developing appliance energy efficiency policies to ensure consumers can sustainably access a better standard of life through common household appliances, without overburdening electrical grids and contributing to global climate change. Data gleaned from product performance testing in laboratories is absolutely essential in assessing energy performance and ensuring that regulated appliance meet the requirements of energy efficiency policies.

Laboratory testing is often one of the most costly activities of energy efficiency compliance programs, meaning policymakers must carefully consider and manage testing costs when allocating resources for compliance activities. A major barrier to successful and sustainable planning for appliance energy efficiency programs has been the deficiency and inaccessibility of data on 1) the costs of building and operating a testing laboratory, and 2) testing prices.

In order to aid policymakers and program managers with the development and design of appliance energy performance testing programs, CLASP worked with the Super-efficient Appliance Deployment (SEAD) Initiative and P&R Energy LLC to develop the SEAD Global Appliance Testing Costs Catalogue. This catalogue provides an overview of the costs of developing appliance energy performance testing laboratories and the prices for testing appliances. Additionally, the catalogue features case studies from around the world on ways to lessen the financial burden of product testing.

Targeting Accurate Laboratory Costs and Testing Prices

The first of its kind, this catalogue provides indicative data on the estimated costs of building and operating appliance energy efficiency testing laboratories, as well as the estimated per unit testing prices for five appliance types. The catalogue contains data collected from testing laboratories around the world for air conditioners, refrigerators, televisions, motors, and general service lighting.

Developing Better Programs for the Future

In addition to the ranges in laboratory costs and testing prices for the different appliances, the catalogue features a series of case studies on how different nations and multi-state actors develop and maintain sustainable testing operations by reducing the need for testing, participating in joint testing to minimize laboratory investment, and simplifying compliance through regional cooperation and information sharing.

Read the full Global Appliance Testing Costs Catalogue

The purpose of the catalogue is to serve as a living resource to help governments and industry make the best use of their program resources to manage and participate in appliance energy efficiency programs. Specifically, the catalogue can assist policymakers in deciding whether they should make the costly investments to build a national laboratory, or whether to apply other cost-effective strategies such as testing in existing national or foreign laboratories or other mechanisms to reduce the need for verification testing. The data in the catalogue can be used by appliance energy efficiency program practitioners and participants as an initial resource to supplement in-depth due diligence processes.

The catalogue was funded by United Kingdom Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and developed by the SEAD Initiative, CLASP, and P&R Energy LLC. SEAD is a group of nineteen member governments that have volunteered to collaborate in promoting the manufacturing, purchasing, and use of energy-efficient appliances, lighting, and equipment worldwide.

CLASP supports governments to determine and implement the most ambitious and cost-effective policy solutions, drawing on global best practice and leading technical expertise. Learn more about our policy and market transformation work by visiting clasp.ngo/what-we-do/policy-analysis