Eco Friendly TV Set Top Boxes and Internet Equipment Are Saving Money and the Planet

TV set-top boxes and internet equipment in the home are doing more than just providing entertainment and information-they're also playing a crucial role in reducing carbon footprints and saving consumers billions of dollars.

New data released
A recent independent report from D+R International, Ltd. highlights the impact that energy-efficient set-top boxes and internet devices like routers and modems have had over the past decade, revealing significant reductions in energy consumption and carbon emissions, as well as significant cost savings for consumers.

What's driving the change
The nation's leading internet, cable, satellite, and telco service providers and equipment manufacturers are successfully reducing energy consumption under two voluntary agreements supported by the NCTA, CableLabs and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®.

• Set-Top Box (STB) Voluntary Agreement:established in 2012, covers the set-top boxes that consumers obtain from cable, satellite, or telephone companies that service more than 90% of the U.S. pay-TV market.
• Small Network Equipment (SNE) Voluntary Agreement:established in 2015, covers internet modems, routers, and other equipment that deliver broadband service to more than 85% of the U.S. residential broadband market.

By the numbers

• $18 Billion saved. Since 2012, under the STB voluntary agreement, energy-efficient set-top boxes and internet equipment have saved U.S. consumers more than $18 billion in energy costs.
• More than 93 million metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided. That's the equivalent of removing 21.9 million cars from the nation's roads for a year.
• 75% shift to IP devices. In 2023, thanks to the SNE voluntary agreement, 75% of new set-top boxes were Internet Protocol (IP) devices, consuming just 24.3 kWh/year compared to the 267 kWh/year used by DVRs in 2012.
  • Despite an eightfold increase in internet speeds, home internet devices have maintained efficient power consumption.

These savings were achieved through commitments to energy efficiency standards set by program advocates, including the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the Natural Resources Defense Council for set-top boxes, and Pacific Gas & Electric for internet devices.

The industry's commitment to sustainability promises a future where eco-friendly devices are standard and the benefits for both consumers and the planet continue to grow.