U.S. Cable Operators Target Better Energy Efficiency

U.S. cable industry today announced a new initiative dedicated to improving the energy efficiency of consumer set-top boxes and other devices and developing advanced cable-enabled services designed to promote innovative consumer energy conservation measures.


CableLabs plans to open a new Energy Lab as part of a new initiative by U.S. cable operators to focus on power efficiency. The initiative will develop specifications for both cable video devices and network support systems. Among other things, these specifications will enable the manufacturing of devices that have “sleep�? capabilities to reduce power consumption when subscribers are not actively watching television. After successful field testing of set-top boxes with next generation power management semiconductors, cable operators will begin promoting the deployment of these devices as part of their ongoing efforts to provide functional, reliable and energy efficient services.


The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and CableLabs said that cable operators providing service to approximately 85 percent of U.S. cable customers have committed to ensure that by the end of 2013 at least 90 percent of all new set-top boxes they purchase and deploy will be ENERGY STAR 3.0 devices.


“This important energy initiative will build upon the industry's exemplary record of improving the energy efficiency of successive generations of video devices and services without government intervention, and more importantly it will chart our energy conservation course for the future,�? said Michael Powell, NCTA President & CEO. http://www.ncta.com