Thailand under Set-Top Boxes
I spotted the news below this morning
http://www.thaipost.net/news/141014/97561
Tuesday, 14 October, 2014 - 00:00
แจกคูปองดิจิตอลสุดวุ่น กสทช.จับตาพ่อค้ากล่องรวมบัตร
and I wondered if anyone has learned about set-top boxes from other countries' experiences -- especially in term of energy consumption. I list some links for your own study below.
But what I ask is this: อุปกรณ์ทีวีดิจิตอล (set-top box) จะทำความสูญเสียต่อชาติเท่าไร?
I looked around and found these numbers:
ค่าไฟฟ้า หน่วยละ ๓.๙๖ บาท (1 หน่วย = 1 kilowatt-hours; ๐.๐๐๓๙๖ บาท/watt-hours)
ประเมินจำนวน อุปกรณ์ทีวีดิจิตอล ทั้งประเทศ ๕-๗ ล้านเครื่อง
อุปกรณ์ทีวีดิจิตอล ใช้ไฟฟ้า เฉลี่ยต่อเครื่อง ๓๕ วัต(๐.๐๓๕ หน่วยต่อ ชม)
ถ้าเปิดโทรทัศน์วันละ ๑๒ ชม
จะเสียค่าไฟฟ้าเพิ่ม (๑๒ ชม x ๓๐ วัน x W watt x 3.96 /1000) ต่อเดือน ต่ออุปกรณ์;
where W = energy consumption of the set-top box
คิดคร่าวๆ 12x30x35 x 6,000,000x3.96/1000 = 299 ล้านบาท ต่อเดือน; 3,592+ ล้านบาทต่อปี
(ค่าไฟฟ้า เครื่องโทรทัศน์ แยกต่างหาก ค่าอุปกรณ์ทีวีดิจิตอล เป็นค่าใช้จ่ายเพิ่มเติม)
It seems to be a drain on Thailand's economy for little benefits. Will Thai industries benefit from this chage (to digital TV)? What areas in Thailand economy will be created, enhanced, or stimulated?
What can we do?
- switch off at the power point or pull the plug when not watching TV
- buy a new LCD/LED TV (the payback period varies with your TV watching habit)
*** Is it possible to use the coupon toward new digital TV instead of set-top box?
- Turn TV off, pull the plug then go outdoors and do some exercises!
List of references:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set-top_box :
...A set-top box (STB) or set-top unit (STU) is an information appliance device that generally contains a TV-tuner input and displays output connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the source signal into content in a form that can then be displayed on the television screen or other display device. They are used in cable television, satellite television, and over-the-air television systems, as well as other uses...
Set-top box energy efficiency
http://www.astra.org.au/policy/stv-set-top-boxes
Energy efficiency of STV set-top boxes
In December 2009 the STV Industry, in conjunction with the Australian Government, established the Voluntary Code for Improving the Energy Efficiency of Conditional-Access Set Top Boxes. A voluntary approach was most suitable given the industry’s size, and its interest and track record in proactively managing set top box energy efficiency.
The aim of the Code is to:
- voluntarily minimise the overall energy consumption (kWh) used by set top boxes without limiting or impeding functionality and user convenience
- set voluntary maximum energy consumption targets for set top boxes and associated testing procedures that endeavour to meet or exceed international best practice for equivalent equipment
- advise the public of the existence and benefits of the Code and the commitments of Signatories to the Code.
Study: DVR, set-top box use most energy at home
http://www.cnet.com/au/news/study-dvr-set-top-box-...
The Natural Resources Defense Council says HD DVRs and HD set-top boxes together use more energy every year than a recent-model refrigerator. The problem? There's no real on/off switch or low-power mode.
by Erica Ogg
@ericainsf
15 June 2011, 8:11 am AEST
... The Natural Resources Defense Council has ranked the biggest energy hogs in the home, and the thing that's gobbling up the most is probably not what you think: the pairing of your digital video recorder and set-top box.
The environmental monitoring group released a study today that says that a high-definition cable or satellite set-top box when combined with a high-definition DVR uses up 446 kilowatt hours per year. That's more than a new Energy Star rated 21 cubic-foot refrigerator, which uses 415 kWh per year, according to the NRDC's data...
Historic Agreement to Slash Energy Use by Set-Top Boxes Will Save $1 Billion Annually Posted December 23, 2013
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/nhorowitz/histor...
...Under a historic agreement announced today, the electricity used by the more than 230 million set-top boxes installed in America’s homes by your cable, satellite, or telephone company will be slashed by 10 to 45 percent, depending on the model, and save consumers a whopping $1 billion annually. The signatories include NRDC and other energy efficiency advocacy groups, along with companies in the pay-TV industry that include such household names as Comcast, Time Warner Cable, DIRECTV, AT&T, and Motorola.
The agreement caps a year of negotiations between the pay-TV industry and efficiency advocates and is great news for consumers and the environment because it will save three power plants’ worth of electricity – and 5 million metric tons of carbon pollution that contributes to climate change -- every year by 2017.
And beginning January 1, America’s 90 million pay-TV subscribers for the first time will be able to easily find out how much electricity their set-top box uses and be ensured a wide range of more efficient models to choose from in the future....
http://standby.lbl.gov/summary-table.html #Standby Power Summary Table lists power consumption of various devices including 'set-top boxes' (over 36 watt on average; snippetted shown below)
Product/Mode Average (W) Min (W) Max (W) Count
Set-top Box, DVR
On, no recording 37.64 25.95 49.2 4
On, recording 29.29 27.27 31.3 2
Off 36.68 23.3 48.6 4
Set-top Box, digital cable with DVR
Not recording, TV off 44.63 44.38 44.87 2
Not recording, TV on 44.4 44.2 44.6 2
Off by remote 43.46 43.3 43.61 2
Set-top Box, digital cable
On, TV off 24.65 14.2 74.74 18
On, TV on 29.64 14.1 102.23 18
Off by remote 17.83 13.24 30.6 14
Off by switch 17.5 13.7 26.3 16
Set-top Box, satellite with DVR
Not recording, TV off 28.35 25.8 30.9 2
Not recording, TV on 31.37 24.2 36.3 3
Off by remote 27.8 22 33.6 2
Set-top Box, satellite
On, TV off 15.95 7.69 33.2 33
On, TV on 16.15 7.69 33.2 33
Off by remote 15.66 6.58 33.05 25
Off by switch 15.47 6.58 32.7 31
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บันทึกนี้เขียนที่ GotoKnow โดย sr ใน SR's Lookouts
I really do admire your thoughtfulness questions and concerns on how to improve situational awareness in Thailand. I wish I had adiquate knowledge and abilities to contribute something meaningful to many of your topics. Like .. like ka.