Consumer Voice :: Sari3

Comparative Product Testing

Comparative Testing

Objectives

How ATest Is Done

Products already Tested

In the case of CFL’s which also has significant number of brands available is the retail market where apart from 15-20 well known brands, all the other brands are cheap quality Chinese brands and some local brands commonly available at very cheap prices. It is also beyond doubt that there is a great saving of energy (50-80 W) on use of CFLs (15 & 20 W) against incandescent lamps (for use against 75-100 W lamps).

Eleven out of 17 known brands had Energy labels in Srilanka on performance factor criteria and most of them are above 3 star rating which clearly indicates significant progress in Energy labeling program in Sri Lanka.

One of the major discrepancy found was non availability of adequate Label information in general and power consumption in particular except CFL’s. During the label evaluation of 17 CFLs procured by us, it was amazing to note that two particular brands namely Lintek & Philips (Ecotone) had energy label marking for different countries. Out of 10 Ceiling Fans purchased only 4 had labeled power consumption (50 - 78 W). Out of 15 magnetic ballasts as bought, only 3 had given Watt-Loss (9 – 12 W). None of the Refrigerators has mentioned any power consumption in its brochures / pamphlets. Most of the Air Conditioners (Window & Split) have mentioned about Power Consumption in its Brochures / Pamphlets. But there is a wide gap of consumption within the same category and size due to their different models .

Keeping in view the vide variety available at very competitive prices, the choices of consumers become more challenging and confusing in choosing a good quality products competitive markets especially in the case of Ceiling Fans, Ballasts and CFL’s. In the case of Refrigerators, Power consumption in totally absent which is very vital particularly when consumer buys a durable product for long use. During most occasions, consumers are deprived of high quality products (costing distinctly high) against the poor quality products available at throw away prices, thereby driving consumer to buy cheap quality products by the retailers.

4. RECOMMENDATION :

During the entire process of the project study so far, it a number of recommendation emerge from the evaluation of various processes which needs immediate attention of National Standards Bodies, enforcement agency, utility bodies, policy makers, Manufacturers etc. to take immediate step for corrective action on availability of quality products at affordable prices to consumers, Particularly on energy efficient products and Label information. Some of the salient findings are being recommended for earliest implementation :

· Immediate need to provide adequate and reliable label information on the product & packaging especially on power consumption and encouraging manufacturers to avoid giving adequate realistic product information to the consumers depriving consumers of their rights.

· None of the product as surveyed (in India) except one Ceiling Fan, two CFLs and three Ballasts had any standards marketing or Energy label marking on the products But in Sri Lanka Most of the popular Ballasts and CFLs had Energy Labels. It’s a lesson to Indian Standard formulation bodies who are urged for speedier implementation of EE&L Standards on availability of Energy labeling on Energy Efficient products on potential savings.

· More and more durable products need to be brought under the EE&L standards program.

· Top priority actions on generation of test data for Benchmarking of minimum energy performance standards to push forward for effective & speedier implementation of EE&L program within the country & Region where NGOs can play a decisive role in promoting.

· Mass consumer awareness program on use of energy efficient products particularly products of Mass consumption.

· National Standards needs immediate modification of specifications and should mention requirement on power consumption of all types of Refrigerator and other products of mass consumption.

· Last but not the least, Regional Countries to follow identical & uniform product standards because of free flow of trade, availability of similar products among the countries of region on potential energy savings & benefits for improved product quality and efficiency.

("This Report/Project was sponsored by SARI/Energy small grants program, which is supported by USAID and implemented by Winrock International.")

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