In a statement made by the Ministry of Economy very recently, it was stated that energy efficiency tests will be started to be carried out in imported led bulbs, electric motors, televisions, coolers, air conditioners, ovens, dishwashers and washing machines. In this way, it is aimed to increase energy efficiency and save electricity in these electrical devices. This application is also an important development in terms of reducing the negative effects of electrical devices on the natural environment while working. Likewise, considering that we are foreign-dependent in energy, this decision is a decision that will also contribute to the closing of our country's current account deficit.
In general, a strict import control policy is applied in our country and within this framework, product safety is given importance for products imported from abroad. Document and mark checks were already carried out on the products subject to inspections, but in addition, laboratory tests were made obligatory.
According to the statement made by the Ministry, 8 million products that were not found safe during these inspections were not allowed to import. Led bulbs constitute more than a quarter of these products. Considering that lighting has an important place in energy use, laboratory tests are extremely important in import inspections.
With the success of this practice, energy efficiency tests will be carried out in laboratories during the import of electric motors, televisions, coolers, air conditioners, ovens, dishwashers and washing machines.
In today's world where natural resources are increasingly depleted, energy saving has become an extremely priority issue. Electric motors consume nearly 70 percent of the electricity consumed in industry. Even a saving in electric motors has a very high effect. If energy efficiency were to be maximized, the amount of electricity savings to be achieved is equal to the energy produced by the Birecik Dam in six months or by the Keban Dam in 3 months. These numbers are not big enough to be underestimated. Electric motors alone consume nearly fifty times their value over their lifetime. So, if the energy efficiency of electric motors is reduced by a quarter, a serious savings will be achieved.
With the energy efficiency tests to be carried out in this way within the framework of product safety inspections in imports, which started in 2016, energy savings will be increased to quite high levels. The application of laboratory tests to be performed in obtaining these results is an important factor.
According to the statement made by the Ministry, the calendar for energy efficiency tests is as follows:
- Laboratory tests of led bulbs will start on 15 March 2018
- Laboratory tests of electric motors will start on 2 April 2018
- Testing of air conditioners and refrigerants will begin on 2 May 2018
- Tests of televisions, ovens, dishwashers and washing machines will begin in the second half of 2018.
What will the Energy Efficiency Audit and Administrative Sanctions Regulation Bring?
In addition to the inspection of electrical devices to be imported, there is also an Energy Efficiency Audit and Administrative Sanctions Regulation, the draft studies of which are carried out by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. The said regulation aims to increase efficiency in the use of energy and energy resources and explains the obligations, responsibilities and audits that must be fulfilled by real and legal persons. It also regulates the principles for the detection of activities contrary to the legal regulations in force and the implementation of administrative sanctions.
Such controls and inspections will be carried out by engineers, experts and assistant experts working in official institutions of the state. However, the activities of private organizations and independent and impartial audit institutions operating in the field of energy efficiency are also reserved.
The principles that are expected to be complied with during the energy audits are as follows:
- Impartiality should be exercised during the audit work, evaluation of the results and preparation of the audit report.
- Any interference that affects honesty and impartiality should not be allowed.
- The care and diligence required by the task should be shown in audit activities.
- Both the aforementioned regulation principles and generally accepted audit principles should be complied with in the works.
- If important points that will adversely affect energy efficiency services are determined during the inspections, this should be explained before the result of the study is expected.
- Inspection works should not prevent the work in the places where the inspection is made.
The Importance of Inspection and Test Laboratories in Energy Efficiency
The basic principle of energy efficiency in independent and impartial test laboratories is to determine the energy needs of customers, to reduce energy costs to economic values and to support enterprises in producing energy solutions in accordance with international standards.
The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources is also taking the necessary steps to measure the energy performance of buildings and create energy identity certificates. In this context, energy efficiency tests are carried out especially on energy efficiency in buildings, energy efficiency in industry, energy efficiency of electrical household vehicles, energy efficiency in heating and cooling systems in homes and workplaces, energy efficiency in lighting and energy efficiency in transportation.
Our economy needs energy at an increasing rate every year. The need for energy is increasing, but most of the energy needs are met from imported sources. Therefore, it is necessary to give importance to energy saving and to turn to alternative energy sources, especially to benefit from renewable energy sources. The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources makes the necessary regulations for the production of heavily used electrical devices in accordance with energy efficiency criteria. Test and inspection organizations also conduct energy efficiency tests of various electrical devices and detect products that fall below a certain energy efficiency class.
The main products tested are:
- Household refrigerators
- Non-linear household lamps
- Fluorescent lamps without integrated ballasts and high intensity discharge lamps
- Household washing machines
- Environmentally friendly design requirements of water circulation pumps
- Environmentally friendly design requirements of electric motors
- Television energy label
- Energy label of home air conditioners
- Energy label of household ovens, stoves and aspirators
- The energy label of vacuum cleaners
- Energy label of household dishwashers
- Energy label of household tumble dryers
Our organization also provides detailed energy efficiency testing services with a strong technological infrastructure and staff.