Australian Case Study: Minimum Energy Performance Standards

1
Australian Case StudyMinimum Energy Performance
Standards Testing Set Top Boxes

• Presentation by
• Paul Ryan
• National Workshop Reducing US Cable and
  Satellite Set Top Box Energy Use
• June 2005

2
Overview

• Australia Energy Standards (MEPS) Framework
• Australian Market
• Definitions for MEPS
• Proposed MEPS
• Test Method Levels
• Definitions of modes of use
• Some recent data
• Issues to resolve
• Australian Industry representative perspectives

3
Australia Energy Standards (MEPS) Framework

• State Federal system
• National Appliance and Equipment EE Program
• Fed Gov Australian Greenhouse Office
• State Gov - Energy Ministries Regulators
• State laws same regulations
• MEPS Labelling for a range of domestic and
  commercial appliances
• Regulations for efficiency are widely supported
  by Australian industry since they create uniform
  requirements for all competitors in the market

4
MEPS Policy framework

• Product selection based on consideration of
  potential opportunities
• Match the most stringent regulated levels in
  force in a major country or
• More stringent only with Australian industry
  support
• Use of Australian Standards
• International harmonisation wherever feasible
• Government works closely/cooperatively with
  industry
• Efficiency levels typically reviewed on a 4-5
  year cycle
• Reflect improvements in the efficiency of
  products
• Facilitate industry planning
• Standards include
• MEPS levels
• High Efficiency level, intended to signal the
  next MEPS level to manufacturers

5
Overview STB Ownership Trends

• Ownership data of STBs
• Free-To-Air Digital STBs first became available
  in Australia in 2001 to coincide with the launch
  of digital television
• Sales of Free-to-Air STBs rapidly increasing
  40,000 units sold in 2002, 230,000 sold in 2003,
  600,000 estimated for 2004
• HD and SD STBs on market
• Subscription TV
• Foxtel 1.1M, digital cable roll-out underway
• Austar 500,000
• 7M HH with TV will require STBs by 2008-12
• Large energy consumption implications
• 2012 Energy use of FTA STBs is estimated to be
  over 700 GWh/yr

6
STB Definitions for MEPS

• STB Free-to-Air (FTA)
• Commercially-available electronic product which
  converts terrestrial digital video broadcast
  signals for use by a video display device such as
  a TV or a recording device such as a VCR. Other
  features such as an integrated hard drive, may be
  included
• STB Subscription TV (STV)
• Electronic device used for the reception and
  descrambling of broadcast signals received from a
  cable, satellite, or broadband source for use by
  a video display device such as a TV or a
  recording device such as a VCR. Other features
  such as an integrated hard drive, may be included.

7
Proposed MEPS

• No Labelling (except voluntary Energy Star)
• Apply to both FTA and STV STBs
• Utilise Testing Standard AS/NZS 620872004
• Methods of measurement for the power consumption
  of audio, video and related equipment
• Clone of IEC 62087, used in Europe and China
  California
• MEPS levels are based on the CEC Appliance
  Standards to be introduced from 2006 and
  applicable elements of the EC Code of Conduct
• Apply from October 2006

8
Proposed MEPS (cont)

• STB Free-to-Air (FTA)
• Either
• Passive Standby ?1.0W On mode ?8W (up to 15W)
• Passive Standby ?2.0W On mode ?7W (up to 15W)
• 
  
  Additional Power
  Allowance
• No STB models surveyed since 2003 would meet this
  MEPS level currently, but several are getting
  close now
• STB Subscription TV (STV)
• Passive Standby ?1.0W not applicable
• Active Standby ?9W up to 15W (not including LNB
  for Satellite)
• Service providers and suppliers of STV STBs
  working to meet this requirement with sufficient
  notice

9
Basic Configuration of STB for Standard

• Single tuner/demodulator
• Single MPEG Decoder
• RF Modulator / Loop-through
• IR Remote Control
• Support for Off-air Software Upgrade
• Smart Card Interface
• Common Interface / Dataport
• RS232 Serial Port
• Support for remote IR Receiver / IR Blaster
• Modem

10
Additional Power Allowance
11
Definition of Modes
12
Timetable
13
In-use/Active Standby Power Distribution FTA
STBs


14
Passive Standby Power Distribution FTA STBs
15
Impact of MEPS GHG reduction
16
Still to Resolve

• PVR/PDR Personnel Video/Digital Recorder
• Hard disk consumption is high in Active Standby
  mode for some products
• Resolve with service providers and STB suppliers
  cooperation still desire to include in MEPS
• Minor additional allowances
• SCART interface
• Auto power down to passive standby for FTA STBs

17
Industry Representative Perspective

• Australian FTA - STB industry
• Keith Jones Panasonic / Standards Committee
• Australian STV Industry ASTRA
• Australian Subscription Television and Radio
  Association
• Terence Smith AUSTAR