CEA: Cable set-tops rank fourth in energy consumption

When compared with all other consumer electronics devices, the cable set-top is the fourth biggest consumer of electricity in U.S homes, according to a report from the Consumer Electronics Association.

While cable operators are increasing efforts to deploy more energy efficient set-tops, the installed base of 86.8 million cable set-tops makes cable operators responsible for more energy consumption than their cable and satellite rivals, according to data in CEA's report on "Energy Consumption of CE in U.S. Homes in 2010." Cable set-tops draw 13 terawatt hours per year, topping satellite set-tops, which draw 8.5 TWh per year and set-tops from telcos such as AT&T's (NYSE: T) U-verse TV and Verizon's (NYSE: VZ) FiOS TV, which draw 1.8 TWh per year, according to CEA.

Televisions consume more electricity than any other CE device in U.S. homes, consuming 65 TW/H. TVs were followed by desktop computers, which draw 22 TWh and video game consoles, which draw 15 TWh.

There are 86.8 million cable set-tops in U.S. homes, including 22.6 million DVRs, 14.9 million high-definition set-tops, 35.4 million standard-definition set-tops and 14 million digital terminal adapters, according to CEA. Satellite providers DirecTV (Nasdaq: DTV) and Dish Network (Nasdaq: DISH) have deployed a total of 76.1 million set-tops in U.S. homes, and telcos have installed 15.9 million set-tops, according to the CEA report.

Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA), Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) and other cable MSOs face increased pressure from legislators, including Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), to deploy more energy efficient set-tops that feature a standby or sleep mode when not in use. Last month, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association announced plans for cable MSOs to test set-top electricity consumption at an Energy Lab facility at the headquarters of CableLabs in Colorado. NCTA says that at least 90 percent of new set-tops deployed by major SOs will be Energy Star 3.0 devices by the end of 2013.

For more:
- see CEA report on energy consumption (PDF)
- see CEA release

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