Australian Case Study: Minimum Energy Performance Standards & Testing: Set Top Boxes

1. Australian Case Study:Minimum Energy Performance Standards & Testing: Set Top Boxes Presentation by Paul Ryan National Workshop – “Reducing US Cable and Satellite Set Top Box Energy Use” June 2005

2. Overview • Australia – Energy Standards (MEPS) Framework • Australian Market • Definitions for MEPS • Proposed MEPS • Test Method & Levels • Definitions of modes of use • Some recent data • Issues to resolve • Australian Industry representative perspectives

3. Australia – Energy Standards (MEPS) Framework • State & Federal system • National Appliance and Equipment EE Program • Fed Gov – Australian Greenhouse Office • State Gov - Energy Ministries + Regulators • State laws – same regulations • MEPS & Labelling for a range of domestic and commercial appliances • Regulations for efficiency are widely supported by Australian industry since they create uniform requirements for all competitors in the market

4. MEPS Policy framework • Product selection based on consideration of potential & opportunities • Match the most stringent regulated levels in force in a major country or: • More stringent only with Australian industry support • Use of Australian Standards • International harmonisation wherever feasible • Government works closely/cooperatively with industry • Efficiency levels typically reviewed on a 4-5 year cycle • Reflect improvements in the efficiency of products • Facilitate industry planning • Standards include: • MEPS levels • ‘High Efficiency’ level, intended to signal the next MEPS level to manufacturers

5. Overview STB Ownership & Trends • Ownership data of STBs • Free-To-Air Digital STBs first became available in Australia in 2001 to coincide with the launch of digital television • Sales of Free-to-Air STBs rapidly increasing: 40,000 units sold in 2002, 230,000 sold in 2003, 600,000+ estimated for 2004 • HD and SD STBs on market • Subscription TV: • Foxtel 1.1M, digital cable roll-out underway • Austar 500,000 • 7M HH with TV will require STBs by 2008-12 • Large energy consumption implications • 2012 Energy use of FTA STBs is estimated to be over 700 GWh/yr

6. STB Definitions for MEPS • STB – Free-to-Air (FTA) • Commercially-available electronic product which converts terrestrial digital video broadcast signals for use by a video display device such as a TV or a recording device such as a VCR. Other features such as an integrated hard drive, may be included • STB – Subscription TV (STV) • Electronic device used for the reception and descrambling of broadcast signals received from a cable, satellite, or broadband source for use by a video display device such as a TV or a recording device such as a VCR. Other features such as an integrated hard drive, may be included.

7. Proposed MEPS • No Labelling (except voluntary Energy Star) • Apply to both FTA and STV STBs • Utilise Testing Standard AS/NZS 62087:2004 • Methods of measurement for the power consumption of audio, video and related equipment • Clone of IEC 62087, used in Europe and China & California • MEPS levels are based on the CEC Appliance Standards to be introduced from 2006 and applicable elements of the EC Code of Conduct • Apply from October 2006

8. Proposed MEPS (cont) • STB – Free-to-Air (FTA) • Either • Passive Standby 1.0W & On mode 8W (up to 15W*) • Passive Standby 2.0W & On mode 7W (up to 15W*) *Additional Power Allowance • No STB models surveyed since 2003 would meet this MEPS level currently, but several are getting close now • STB – Subscription TV (STV) • Passive Standby 1.0W not applicable • Active Standby 9W up to 15W* (not including LNB for Satellite) • Service providers and suppliers of STV STBs working to meet this requirement with sufficient notice

9. Basic Configuration of STB for Standard • Single tuner/demodulator • Single MPEG Decoder • RF Modulator / Loop-through • IR Remote Control • Support for Off-air Software Upgrade • Smart Card Interface • Common Interface / Dataport • RS232 Serial Port • Support for remote IR Receiver / IR Blaster • Modem

10. *Additional Power Allowance

11. Definition of Modes

12. Timetable

13. 100% 90% n= 4 2003Jan 80% n= 28 2003-04 n= 44 2004-05 70% 60% 50% Percentage of appliances measured at load 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 0.05 <2 <4 <6 <8 <10 <12 <14 <16 <18 <20 <22 <24 >24 Power of Appliance in the specified mode - Watts In-use/Active Standby Power Distribution – FTA STBs

14. 100% 90% n= 4 2003Jan 80% 2003-04 n= 27 n= 42 2004-05 70% 60% Percentage of appliances measured at load 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 0.05 <2 <4 <6 <8 <10 <12 <14 <16 <18 <20 <22 <24 >24 Power of Appliance in the specified mode - Watts Passive Standby Power Distribution – FTA STBs

15. Impact of MEPS – GHG reduction

16. Still to Resolve • PVR/PDR – Personnel Video/Digital Recorder • Hard disk consumption is high in Active Standby mode for some products • Resolve with service providers and STB suppliers cooperation – still desire to include in MEPS • Minor additional allowances • SCART interface • Auto power down to passive standby for FTA STBs

17. Industry Representative Perspective • Australian FTA - STB industry • Keith Jones – Panasonic / Standards Committee • Australian STV Industry – ASTRA • Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association • Terence Smith – AUSTAR