ENERGY STAR® Set-top Boxes
Version 4.1 Specification Review
Stakeholder Webinar
April 5th, 2012

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Introductions• Katharine Kaplan
EPA Team Lead, ENERGY STAR Product Development
Project Manager, Set-top Box Specification Development• Matt Malinowski
ICF International• Rachel Unger
ICF International• Tom Bolioli
Terra Novum5Specification Goals Recap• Drive the greatest practical energy savings• Maintain a performance-based andtechnology-neutral specification that recognizes
market leaders• Harmonize with existing and future test procedures
and requirements• Develop a specification that– Is simple, but– Recognizes products with diverse functionalities
11Cable Industry Efficiency Initiative• Led by the NCTA and CableLabs®
• Involves operators providing service toapproximately 85% of U.S. cable customers• At least 90% of all new set-top boxes purchasedand deployed will meet ENERGY STAR V3.0 by
the end of 201314

Version 4.0 Overview• Finalized in April 2010  Effective July 2013
• Similar to Version 3.0, with more stringent
Typical Energy Consumption (TEC) Allowances– 32% Average Decrease in Base Allowances(50% Decrease for IP Boxes)– 21% Average Decrease in Adder Allowances• Some currently qualified models already meet
Version 4.0 levels

17Summary of Issues for Consideration• Test Method• Multi-room Configurations• Customer-premises Equipment (LNBs, ONTs)

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ENERGY STAR Test Method• Source signals: SD network TV, HD sports, SD news
• Accredited labs must be able to access or simulate theservice provider’s head-end and environment, including
periodic downloads• Test Method Includes Multiple STB Modes:– Live TV Viewing– DVR Recording and Playback– Removable Media Recording and Playback– Sleep, Auto Power Down, and Deep Sleep• Test Method Includes Multi-room STBs

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Test Method (cont.)• EPA may revise the Version 4 specification toreference the new DOE test method(to be finalized by Spring 2013)– DOE test method is expected to be based on existing
test methods, including ENERGY STAR
– No major changes to testing and qualification areexpected– Hopefully will be based on IEC 62087

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Test Method Questions• EPA would now like to open up the line for any
comments and questions from stakeholders.

24Multi-room Configuration• Encourage whole home efficient solutions– Home networking– Whole home DVR– Network and cloud-based delivery– Low-power thin clients or zero clients– Deep sleep with short wake time
– Idle data connections operate at lower power• Balance functionality/features with efficiency

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ENERGY STAR Multi-room
Test Procedures• If a multi-room-capable STB can qualify withouta multi-room additional functionality allowance, it
may be tested only in single-room configuration• If a client STB is required, it shall be used in theset up of the multi-room test for the server STB• Same test procedures (all modes, DVR,removable media etc.) apply for both singleroom and multi-room configuration tests

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Factors Affecting Multi-room
Energy Use• Multiple tuners• Additional functionality has been transferredfrom the client to the centralized multi-room box• Multi-room box acts as gateway

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Multi-room Questions• EPA would now like to open up the line for any
comments and questions from stakeholders.

30Customer-premises Equipment• Version 3.0 and 4.0 specifications exclude thetesting of low-noise block downconverters(LNBs) used with satellite systems• LNBs permit operation of satellite STBs bydown-converting the high frequency television
signal to frequencies more suitable for cabletransportation• LNBs can be powered independently
or by the STB
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Customer-premises Equipment (cont.)• Some stakeholders expressed concern that
exclusion of LNBs used with Satellite models
favors this base functionality• However, other base functionality boxes (Cable,IP) also include customer-premises equipmentthat could contribute to TEC

32Open Comment & Questions• EPA would now like to open up the line for any
additional comments and questions fromstakeholders

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References and Resources• ENERGY STAR STB specification development:
Go to www.energystar.gov/RevisedSpecs and Click on “Set-top Boxes”• U.S. Department of Energy Set-top Box Rulemaking:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance standards/residential/
set top boxes.html• CEA-2043, Set-top Box Power Measurement
http://standards.ce.org/apps/group public/project/details.php?project id=5139