Your cable box uses more power than your refrigerator

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If you have a cable box and a DVR, their combined power draw is a stunning 446 kWh per year -- more than a new refrigerator. And two-thirds of that energy gets sucked down when the boxes aren't even in use. In fact, they draw almost as much power when the TV is off as they do when they're playing content.

Eighty percent of U.S. households pay for TV, and cumulatively, we spend $2 billion a year on electricity for our set-top devices. Just eliminating the power they draw when not in use would reduce electricity consumption by the equivalent of six coal-fired power plants.

One of the reasons this humdrum consumer item isn't more efficient is that the overwhelming majority of the boxes are provided by the cable operators themselves. They're not paying your electricity bill, so they don't give a #######.

And you thought shitty service, price gouging, bandwidth caps, and making it possible to watch 19 Kids and Counting were your cable company's only sins.

straight to the source

• Pay TV boxes hike electric bills, waste energy, USA Today

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

and on top of that, they charge you for the box - and you're "renting it" - should it go bad, you have to pay to replace it.

yeah i hate directv too.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

and on top of that, they charge you for the box - and you're "renting it" - should it go bad, you have to pay to replace it.

yeah i hate directv too.

You have to negotiate. I haven't paid full price since I started with DirecTV in 1993. I get my box lease refunded. Since I had to purchase my own equipment way back when, the new equipment is provided free of charge. I just have to give it all back to them if I ever cancel the service.

ETA: They even send somebody here to make all the upgrades for free. But, they don't trim trees. I have to do that myself.

Edited June 17, 2011 by Some Old Guy

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Good news Steven. I have an OLD refrigerator and it uses lots more energy than my DVR.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Good news Steven. I have an OLD refrigerator and it uses lots more energy than my DVR.

Just kick the door shut. That saves lots of energy. If they really what to save energy, put automatic door closers on those things.

Edited June 17, 2011 by Some Old Guy

[dalegg 143]

It's boring watching the refrigerator all day though.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

It's boring watching the refrigerator all day though.

Unless you dropped some acid earlier, and you are watching it melt.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It's boring watching the refrigerator all day though.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Good news Steven. I have an OLD refrigerator and it uses lots more energy than my DVR.

I must give credit where credit is due for Gary. This was a truly funny comment.

And shame on Steven for being a Debby Downer on the DVR news.

I love my DVR, and won't let him rain on my parade or be a stick in my mud, wet my blanket or bait my hook neither!

[TBoneTX 45,324]

Unless you dropped some acid earlier, and you are watching it melt.

Perhaps that's where the 'shrooms are stored, and conveniently so, si man.

[Vi-Jay 218]

Unless you dropped some acid earlier, and you are watching it melt.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Figuring today's cable boxes are nothing more than small computeres essentially, it makes perfectly good sense.

Ever paid attention how newer cable boxed have to "boot" when you first turn them on after being plugged in?

Unlike your refrigerator as well, the box is always running, so the comparison is a bit silly. Just as light bulbs on the list is silly as well.

[Neonred 3,567]

I don't have a DVR but I do have a cable box. I just checked and my box uses 40 watts. Assuming it is on 24/7, it consumes approx. 29 kw a month. Since I pay about 9 cents per kw, that cable box is costing me a little over $2.60 a month to use. I can handle that.

[SMR 368]

Figuring today's cable boxes are nothing more than small computeres essentially, it makes perfectly good sense.

Ever paid attention how newer cable boxed have to "boot" when you first turn them on after being plugged in?

Unlike your refrigerator as well, the box is always running, so the comparison is a bit silly. Just as light bulbs on the list is silly as well.

Nonetheless, it's somewhat ridiculous that the manufacturer doesn't implement a power saving mode when there is no data being processed. Most processors have modes like this where they are consuming almost no power. They can be set to turn on when they detect something, such as data coming through or being requested. It wouldn't be difficult. The units probably wouldn't even be incrementally more expensive. It would just be necessary to do a little more programming.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

When I had one, (I cut the cable about 8 months ago) I would unplug when not in use.

Now on the cable modem, I do own that and keep it on 24 hrs a day.