EPA Says to Look for the ENERGY STAR When Purchasing a DTA Converter Box

When TV broadcasts switch to all-digital format February 17, 2009, Americans with analog televisions who do not subscribe to cable or satellite services and rely solely on over-the-air programming for their TV-viewing will need a digital-to-analog (DTA) converter box in order to continue receiving television broadcasts.

It is estimated that consumers will purchase 22 million DTA converter boxes to help them make this transition. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that conventional DTAs could consume more than 3 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) per year and cost Americans $270 million annually in electricity costs.

So, how can consumers save? EPA encourages Americans to look for the ENERGY STAR when purchasing a DTA converter box. DTA converter boxes that have earned the ENERGY STAR consume no more than 8 watts in On Mode and 1 watt in Sleep Mode and they automatically power down after 4 hours or less of user inactivity.

ENERGY STAR qualified DTA converter boxes are also helpful in the fight against global warming. In fact, if all DTA converter boxes sold in the U.S. met the ENERGY STAR specification, Americans could save approximately 13 billion kWh and $1 billion in energy costs over the lifetime of the products -- reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking more than 1 million cars off the road.

For a list of ENERGY STAR qualified DTA converter boxes, visit http://www.energystar.gov , click on "Products" and "Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes."

What else can consumers do to save?

Consumers may also choose to purchase a new digital television, or subscribe to a cable or satellite service requiring a set-top box in order to receive digital TV signals.

Whichever option they choose, ENERGY STAR qualified products will help save energy, money and the environment.

• ENERGY STAR qualified TVs are up to 30 percent more efficient than conventional models. Starting in 2009, if all TVs sold in the U.S. met ENERGY STAR requirements, energy savings would grow to about $1 billion a year -- reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of about 1 million cars.
• New cable, satellite and telecom set-top boxes (available Jan. 1, 2009) are at least 30 percent more efficient than conventional models. If all set-top boxes sold in the U.S. were ENERGY STAR qualified, Americans could save about $2 billion each year on energy bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from about 2.5 million vehicles.

For more information on how to minimize the digital transition's impact on energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions, consumers can go to http://www.energystar.gov/products.