“Measuring and Reducing Set Top Box Power Use”

1. “Measuring and Reducing Set Top Box Power Use” International Stakeholder Workshop June 29, 2005 By Noah Horowitz Senior Scientist NRDC nhorowitz@nrdc.org

2. Today’s Meeting • Go over energy and environmental impacts of set top box power use. • Explore feasibility of reducing overall box energy use, especially during extended periods of set top box inactivity. • Share information on research and policy developments from around the world. • Discuss test methods, operating modes, and performance metrics. • Create process for ongoing communication and collaboration.

4. Who is NRDC? • Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) • Environmental advocacy group with more than 600,000 members. • Air/Energy program interested in reducing global warming pollution and protecting public health. • Long track record of collaboration with industry and policy makers on energy efficiency (monitors, soda machines, computers, lighting).

5. Energy Efficiency “Deliver same level of performance while using less energy” • Efficiency gains through improved designs, more efficient components, etc. • Reduce user’s operating costs. Extremely cost effective. • NO CONSUMER SACRIFICE • Policies should be performance based, not prescriptive. Encourage innovation.

6. Today’s Scope • Cable and satellite set top boxes • Analog and high definition (HD) • Multifunction including built-in digital video recorders (DVRs) • Focus on new boxes to be deployed, not retrofitting existing ones • For today, exclude: • DTAs – digital TV adapters (digital to analog) • Game Box Consoles (X-Box, etc.) • CableCARDs integrated in TVs

7. Why Set Tops? • More than 80% of U.S. homes have cable or satellite TV. • Many of these customers have 1 or more set top boxes. • Per box power use increasing because new boxes have added functionality (dual tuners, recording/storage capability, HD, etc.) • Number of new full featured boxes expected to grow dramatically. • Set tops consume ~ 1% of national residential electricity use and projected to increase by up to 75% by 2008.

8. Highlights of NRDC/Ecos Research • Set top boxes draw between 10 and 30+ Watts all day long. • Pressing “off” button has no significant impact on power use. • Most boxes do not have sleep mode. (always “fully on”) • Annual power consumption of new full featured HD boxes with DVRs approximately 200-300 kWh/yr. • Household set top box annual energy use (for homes with multiple boxes) approaching that of a new refrigerator.

10. Set Top Environmental Overview • Power plants largest source of CO2, mercury emissions • If no efficiency gains made in new set top box designs:

11. Set Top Box (STB) Primer • To date, service provider (eg Time Warner, Direct TV, etc.) buys the box and gives or leases the box to their customer. • Customer, not box purchaser, pays the electric bill (“split incentive”).

12. Unique Challenges Service providers need to maintain continuous connectivity to the boxes in their system • Send updates – program guide, encryption codes (prevent theft) • Ability for two way communication (eg. pay per view

13. Low Power Mode Challenge • Box not being used by the consumer for most of the day. Typical use 4 to 6 hours/day. • Can box enter low power mode due to user action or after extended period of inactivity, but still “wake” in response to head end or user signal? • Good analogies – cell phones (uses a lot less power during standby, but always connected and ready to take a call; computer sleep mode).

14. More Low Power Mode Thoughts • Box should enter this mode when: • User pushes the STB power button to off or hits STB remote (unlikely) • After extended period of inactivity • After completing service provider induced update • After recording pre-scheduled show • TiVo type issues – hard drive spinning, and speculative recording

15. Efficiency Gains May Require • STB modifications • “Head-end” modifications - Wake and sleep protocols developed and used • Will likely need changes in both software and hardware. Proactive coordination between various stakeholders will be needed.

16. The Potential If US adopted a similar approach to Australia, we could: • Avoid the need for 3 large (500 MW) power plants • Prevent 10 million tons/yr of CO2 emissions, a major global warming pollutant. This is equal to taking all the cars off the road from a city the size of Philadelphia for a year.

17. Lots of Worldwide Activity • EU working to create Code of Conduct. • Australians have established mandatory performance standards (MEPS) • China very interested in this topic. Current focus DTAs, more complex set tops next. • EPA ENERGY STAR – voluntary labeling program. Current spec suspended, planning to reissue in future. • Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) Working Group created

18. Worldwide Harmonization • Recognize national markets around the world vary considerably as do local broadcasting requirements. One size fits all spec probably unrealistic. • To the extent possible worldwide harmonization desirable for modes, test methods, capabilities, etc. • Goal is to reduce burden on STB manufacturers and to achieve energy savings at lowest cost

19. Today’s Ground Rules • Today is not a negotiation or an attempt to set power levels. • Dialogue to focus on test methods, modes, and what is possible. • Aim for constructive discussion/strive for collaboration • Please participate. Lots of meeting dedicated to open discussion. • Avoid talking about specific pricing, trades secrets, etc.

20. Link to NRDC/Ecos Paper • http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/energyeff/ienergyeff.asp. • Includes raw data on set top box field measurements