New Tweaks Released in Energy Star V8.0 TV Spec but in 'Revised Final Draft' Form
EPA released additional tweaks Tuesday in its Energy Star Version 8.0 TV spec, but in a “revised final draft,” not the actual final spec that the agency said it would release mid-August. EPA continues to grapple with how low to…
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set a TV screen’s required minimum brightness when the set is viewed in dark rooms with the energy-saving automatic brightness control feature enabled. EPA sees the rule as critical for discouraging consumers from disabling ABC because the screen is too dark in ambient room light of 3 lux. EPA originally set the minimum brightness at 150 nits at 3 lux on Imaging Science Foundation recommendations, lowering it to 125 nits after TV makers complained the minimum setting would be too bright (see 1705190033). After July 18 release of the final draft spec, three TV makers that EPA didn't name stepped forward to argue that the 125-nit requirement would still be too bright, said a Tuesday agency cover memo. EPA “has subsequently become aware” of the SMPTE standard (ST 2080) for content editing on HDTVs, which calls for a 100-nit screen luminance, the agency said. “In the absence of industry-wide consensus on optimal brightness for dark room viewing, and given this additional point of reference, EPA is lowering the requirement for luminance at 3 lux to greater than or equal to” 100 nits, it said. Comments are due Nov. 7. EPA representatives didn’t comment further, and the memo said V8.0's effective date was pushed back to July 1 from April 16.