The subscription TV industry's voluntary code of conduct is improving the energy efficiency of conditional access set top boxes used across the industry.
In December 2009 the STV Industry established a Voluntary Code of Conduct in conjunction with the Australian Government to manage energy efficiency of set top boxes.
A voluntary approach was most suitable on account of the industry’s size, and its interest and track record in proactively managing set top box energy efficiency.
The aim of the Code is to:
- Voluntarily minimise the overall energy consumption (kWh) used by set top boxes without limiting or impeding functionality and user convenience
- Set voluntary maximum energy consumption targets for set top boxes and associated testing procedures that endeavour to meet or exceed international best practice for equivalent equipment
- Advise the public of the existence and benefits of the Code and the commitments of Signatories to the Code.
Practical improvements have included introducing the auto-standby feature to the FOXTEL iQ, which places the box into standby mode after it hasn’t been used for a while.
Government modelling initially estimated one million tonnes of household carbon emissions would be avoided in Australian households by 2020 through the Code’s operation. Following the second round of annual reporting in March 2012 where all targets were met, it now appears the impact of the Code will be even greater than first estimated.
Mark Dreyfus, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, noted that “the subscription television industry code is curbing emissions associated with set top boxes at rates faster than the Government thought possible when this process first started a few years ago. The subscription television industry is to be congratulated because their voluntary action is now reducing emissions and energy consumption as well as lowering customers’ energy bills.”
Download the Code
Signatories:
Associate members:
