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The papers in these workshops represent the personal views of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of their companies, organisations or the IEA.

International Workshop on Saving Energy in Set-Top Boxes

Location and date(s) of workshop:	IEA, Paris: 27-28 May 2004

Organiser(s):	IEA


Background:	The International Energy Agency hosted a workshop examining the energy efficiency of set-top boxes – the term used to describe a wide range of products that allow televisions to receive digital broadcast signals, connect to the internet, or perform a host of other multi-media functions. In the next decade, over a billion of these boxes will be placed in homes around the world. These boxes are never switched off, so they are poised to add as much as 30 GW of to world electrical demand. New technologies were demonstrated at the workshop that could greatly reduce future electricity consumption but government policies may be needed to encourage manufacturers to incorporate those technologies. Over 60 persons attended the Workshop, from every aspect of the industry, plus government regulators and other interested groups. Government officials also met separately and agreed to coordinate their policies towards set-top boxes principally designed to convert digital signals into analog signals. For any other information please contact Alan Meier.

Links to relevant documents:	Outcomes Final Agenda Participating Organizations

Proceedings:	DAY 1 Welcome by Chair, – Professor Brenda Boardman (Oxford University) Why is the International Energy Agency concerned about set-top boxes? – Alan Meier (IEA) Scope of products covered in the Workshop – Bob Harrison (Intertek UK) Administrators of voluntary and mandatory efficiency programmes; why are we regulators here? – Tony Marker (Australian Greenhouse Office) The European Code of Conduct for Digital Television Services – Paolo Bertoldi (European Commission DG JRC) Energy Star specifications for set-top boxes -- Andrew Fanara (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) United Kingdom’s views on energy efficiency of new devices -- Chris Baker (DEFRA, United Kingdom) China’s plans to label and regulate energy use of set-top boxes – Guoqin Zhang (China Certification Center for Energy Conservation Products) Australia’s plans to regulate energy use of set-top boxes – Tony Marker (Australia Greenhouse Office) California’s plans to regulate energy use of set-top boxes – John Wilson (California Energy Commission) Set-Top boxes, the result of a project in Switzerland – Roland Brüniger (Swiss Energy) A voluntary efficiency specification from the set-top industry – early outcomes from a US working group – Jason Linnell (Electronic Industries Alliance) Discussion: Implications of global interest. Is a global voluntary consensus on energy use possible? Set-top box conversion in Berlin – A glimpse into the future? Stephan Kolb (DENA, Germany) Introduction to the remainder of the afternoon’s activities Technical overview of the European Code of Conduct – Hans-Paul Siderius (SenterNovem) Presentation of the Paris Protocol on Set-Top Boxes – Alan Meier (IEA) Initial responses and discussion Viewpoints: energy savings opportunities and obstacles – Professor Brenda Boardman (Oxford University) Efficiency opportunities in set-top boxes – Ken Dale (Pace Micro Technology) Example of energy-efficient set-top box design – Young-Min Lee (Texas Instruments) Flash memory solutions to reduce set-top box energy use and maintain security – Eddie Ramirez and Chris Bowen (Spansion/AMD) Discussion: Feasibility of implementing efficiency improvements The service provider’s perspective in improving set-top box efficiency – David Holliday (BskyB) US service provider requirements, an EchoStar perspective – Dave Walton (Eldon Technologies/Echostar) Discussion: Are energy savings possible through new operating practices? DAY 2 Chair’s summary of yesterday’s discussion and administrative items – Professor Brenda Boardman (Oxford University) Energy saving perspectives from TV manufacturers – Keith Jones (Panasonic, Australia) Discussion: the TV connection and the future of set-top boxes Role of components in set-top box energy efficiency The various solutions to improve set-top box PSU efficiency – Christophe Warin (ON Semiconductor) Example of a highly efficient power supply designed to meet a set-top box’s needs – Ben Sutherland (Power Integrations) Saving Energy in Set-Top Boxes – Philippe Notton (Zarlink) Discussion: energy savings in the whole set-top box system The Paris Protocol: identifying areas of consensus and disagreement Lessons for Energy Star’s specifications – Andrew Fanara (US EPA) Additional Presentations Saving Energy in STBs: Comments – Matt Oravetz (IEA) Power Down & Standby commands by the Existing DiSEqC System – Hans-Joachim Bruch Zero Energy homes: Significance of Other Loads – Danny Parker (Florida Solar Energy Center)