PSMA Update

The article quotes a recent study that found: "...One high-definition DVR and one high-definition cable box use an average of 446 kilowatt hours a year, about 10 percent more than for a 21-cubic foot energy-efficient (Energy Star) refrigerator,...These set-top boxes are energy hogs primarily because their drivers, tuners and other components are generally running full tilt, or nearly so, 24 hours a day, even when not in active use...".

There are technical options available to shut down or put the Set Top Box in a sleep mode when not in use - but cable operators state that "...customers will not tolerate the time it takes to reboot the system once the system has been shut down or put to sleep..."

The premise that customers will not tolerate any minor immediate inconvenience has been an industry's "slogan" for many years. There may be some truth to that paradigm, because nobody likes inconvenience or perceived inconvenience and many power saving devices do cause some inconvenience: A computer in a sleep mode takes some amount of time to wake up before becoming fully functional. An efficient compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb is not as bright at turn on as the old incandescent bulb. Besides the “warm up” period these bulbs have an additional inconvenience of disposal, due to the mercury contamination. The emerging LED light bulb technology is highly efficient in its energy use, but at the present time too expensive for general consumer use. Most new power saving or energy efficient technologies do bring with them a certain level of inconvenience.

For this reason, public education is important. Consumers should be informed that a minor change in habit or convenience can have long term benefits. For example, using an efficient Set Top Box may save the consumer about $10/month. This may not seem to be a major amount, especially when one may have to pay a slightly higher price for an efficient Set Top Box and perhaps wait for the TV set to switch on. The consumer has already shown that they are already willing to pay a small premium for an “Energy Star” rated appliance. And over a reasonable time period, the savings in electric utility bills will pay not only the premium but also the price for the Set Top Box itself. A small, short term inconvenience, for a long term gain. Moreover, there are already technologies available that will not only improve efficiency but also reduce the wait state.

However, I have observed that in any new technology argument, there are two competing groups: regulators (mostly engineers and environmentalists) who are aware of technical solutions and what is advantageous for the environment and the product manufactures who claim to “understand” their customers. Typically many manufacturers will initially resist any new technology that improves efficiency by saying either it is too expensive or too inconvenient. Actual consumer inputs is rarely regarded or taken into account. For example, Ms. Rosenthal's article mentions opinions from well known scientists and engineers (e.g. Noah Horowitz of NRDC) and Set Top Box manufacturers, but not a word from what the users' want or prefer. There is no input from the consumers.

In my opinion, given the facts and the benefits of "value proposition for energy efficiency", most consumers will choose energy efficient systems for the long term, even though they may be a bit more costly and inconvenient in the short term. This has been the demonstrated trend in auto safety, fuel efficiency, and appliances.

For engineers to succeed in advancing new green technologies, it is important for them to examine their implementation from the users' acceptance as much as their technical feasibility. Any new energy efficiency technology is often initially perceived as inconvenient or expensive and met with resistance from the manufacturers. There are issues of habit, inertia, existing product lines and an inherent resistance to change.

With regards to the Set Top Box situation, any consumer resistance or concerns can be overcome first by education, cost savings and perhaps by establishment of government standards for efficiency – an Energy Star designation for Set Top Boxes.

The views expressed in this article are solely of Mohan Mankikar. They do not represent the views of PSMA. Mohan Mankikar has been a part of the power supply industry for over twenty five years. An active member of the PSMA since its founding, he had been a board member of the PSMA and currently serves on the Advisory Council.