Lighting, LEDs & Electrical Fixtures worked example

Energy Label Compliance Burden with connected load of compliance test rig of 4 kW: a worked example

This worked example runs the energy label compliance burden numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: connected load of compliance test rig of 4 kW instead of the typical 8 kW. Estimate the energy cost of running compliance and certification testing for LED fixtures, including ENERGY STAR, DLC, Title 24, or CE marking testing. Calculates total power cost and cost per fixture tested based on test load, runtime, electricity rate, and batch size.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Connected load of compliance test rig: 4 kW (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 8)
  • Total test runtime for the batch: 16 hr (held at the documented default)
  • Facility electricity rate: 0.13 $ / kWh (held at the documented default)
  • Fixtures tested in this batch: 12 fixtures (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Total compliance testing energy cost = test load (kW) x runtime (hr) x electricity rate.
  • Total compliance testing energy cost works out to 8.32 $ / unit at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Compliance test energy consumed (kWh) works out to 64 kWh at these inputs.
  • Compliance energy cost per fixture works out to 0.69 $ / piece at these inputs.
  • Hourly test equipment energy cost works out to 0.52 $ / hr at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where connected load of compliance test rig sits at 8 kW and the headline result is 16.64 $ / unit, this scenario comes in 50% below the baseline at 8.32 $ / unit.
  • Use it when costing a certification program, sizing test batches, or evaluating the overhead of adding a new labeled SKU. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Total compliance testing energy cost: 8.32 $ / unit (headline result)
  • Compliance test energy consumed (kWh): 64 kWh
  • Compliance energy cost per fixture: 0.69 $ / piece
  • Hourly test equipment energy cost: 0.52 $ / hr

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Energy Label Compliance Burden calculator, set connected load of compliance test rig to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.