Estimates of consumer electronics electricity use range from 11 percent to 13 percent, according to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) respectively. EPA predicts this percentage is expected to increase to 18 by 2015. While consumer electronics represent a significant savings opportunity for efficiency programs, the product category also presents a unique challenge due to its fast changing nature and the dispersion of end-uses in the home each representing an often small share of total electronics energy end-use.

The current Initiative, launched in June 2007, serves as a framework for CEE's work in the consumer electronics product area. CEE expects to flesh out the Initiative as work progresses. The Initiative has two primary goals:

1. To facilitate efficiency programs in their efforts to increase the sale and market share of energy-efficient consumer electronics; and,
2. To develop a consistent definition of and criteria for energy efficiency in the consumer electronics product area, and to identify products that meet these criteria, in an effort to increase the sale and market share of energy-efficient products. (As part of this effort, CEE plans to work with the ENERGY STAR program.)

CEE Publishes Consumer Electronics Program Guide
CEE’s Consumer Electronics Program Guide contains information on voluntary approaches for the promotion of energy efficient consumer electronics products and practices. It is a resource for energy efficiency programs and the consumer electronics industry.

CEE Consumer Electronics Initiative Launched!
The CEE Board of Directors approved the Consumer Electronics Initiative in June 2007. Read the Initiative Description here.