[Greenbuilding] Jevon's and plumbers

[Jason Holstine]

I can attest to that. A few years ago we got new service that required a
set-top box that could not be turned off‹hitting Power Off didn¹t actually
turn the thing off (b/c the box wants to keep getting the data feed from the
node). Threw a kill-a-watt on there and found each box sucking 40 watts ‹
24/7/365.  I calculated that to be costing me about $3.50/mo since we have 3
TVs. I threw a Smart Strip power strip on each set-up, so whenever we turn
the TV off, the strip cuts off the peripherals as it they¹re being
unplugged.  When it comes back on it takes about a minute for the box to
reboot‹a pain in the rear to be sure‹but worth it as far as I¹m concerned.
Talk about vampire load.

I believe Energy Star is now unveiling a label for set-top boxes which has
the potential to be a huge difference maker.  But you¹ll need to see if your
cable provider has the new boxes and will swap them out.


On 7/30/12 3:28 PM, "Michael O'Brien" <obrien at hevanet.com> wrote:

> Hi, David--
> 
> A modern TV is usually integrated into a system that includes a set-top cable
> box, a recorder (like Tivo), DVD player, a network box (like Apple TV) and
> maybe a VCR. So I think it makes more sense to determine the total consumption
> of that " TV ecosystem" to get an accurate picture of current watts and
> overall efficiency.
> 
> For example, here's an evaluation of wattages of set-top boxes:
> www.nrdc.org/energy/files/settopboxes.pdf
> <http://www.nrdc.org/energy/files/settopboxes.pdf> . They can consume more
> watts than the TV itself.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Mike
> 
> Mike O'Brien Photography
> mikeoregon.zenfolio.com <http://mikeoregon.zenfolio.com>
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Jul 30, 2012, at 11:48 AM, David Bergman wrote:
> 
>> Thanks Paul. That's great to hear. I suspect the reports I'd read were
>> written when plasma flat-screens were more prevalent.
>> 
>> BTW, don't know if you noted that I live on Eldridge Street!
>> 
>> David
>> 
>> At 02:43 PM 7/30/2012, you wrote:
>>> Hi David, I haven't been able to confirm this elsewhere, but I've read on
>>> one site that "very early tube TVs from the 1950s produced (sic) well over
>>> 400 watts" (source:Â
>>> http://www.ehow.com/info_7795151_hd-tvs-vs-older-tvs.html).Â
>>> <http://www.ehow.com/info_7795151_hd-tvs-vs-older-tvs.html).%C2%A0>  Today,
>>> a 42-inch Panasonic TC-L42D30 consumes just 91-watts. Hoping for something
>>> even better?  The LG 47-inch  LCD HDTV reportedly consumes just 28-watts
>>> (source:Â 
>>> http://www.electronichouse.com/article/lg_display_offering_worlds_most_energ
>>> y-efficient_47-inch_lcd_hdtv/). Cheers, Paul >I think Jevon's Paradox gets
>>> overquoted and >overestimated as an anti-efficiency tactic. While >there's
>>> no doubt it exists to a degree, I believe >most studies have shown that the
>>> increases in >usage are not larger than the gains in efficiency. > >I know
>>> I've read several such articles recently, >but can't put my finger on them.
>>> Anyone recall? > >And I think a major exception cited is >televisions, where
>>> they've become more >energy-efficient but they've also gotten much >larger.
>>> But you can argue that there are two >separate factors at work there.
>>> Similarly for refrigerators. > >David >David Bergman  RA  LEED AP >DAVID
>>> BERGMAN ARCHITECT / FIRE & WATER LIGHTING + FURNITURE >architecture .
>>> interiors . ecodesign . lighting . furniture >bergman at cyberg.com
>>> <http://cyberg.com>    www.cyberg.com <http://www.cyberg.com/> >241 Eldridge
>>> Street #3R, New York, NY 10002 >t 212 475 3106    f 212 677 7291 > >author -
>>> Sustainable Design: A Critical Guide >blog - www.EcoOptimism.com
>>> <http://www.ecooptimism.com/>  >adjunct faculty - Parsons The New School for
>>> Design > >>Time again to remember Jevon's Paradox: the more >>efficiently
>>> something is used, the more we will use. >> >>Clarke Olsen
>>> >>clarkeolsendesign.com >>373 route 203 >>Spencertown, NY 12165 >>USA
>>> >>518-392-4640 >>colsen at taconic.net <http://taconic.net>  Sent from my
>>> BlackBerry® PlayBook www.blackberry.com <http://www.blackberry.com/>
>>> _______________________________________________ Greenbuilding mailing list
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>> 
>> David Bergman  RA   LEED AP
>> DAVID BERGMAN ARCHITECT / FIRE & WATER LIGHTING + FURNITURE
>> architecture . interiors . ecodesign . lighting . furniture
>> bergman at cyberg.com   www.cyberg.com <http://www.cyberg.com/>
>> 241 Eldridge Street #3R, New York, NY 10002
>> t 212 475 3106    f 212 677 7291
>> 
>> author - Sustainable Design: A Critical Guide
>> blog - www.EcoOptimism.com <http://www.ecooptimism.com/>
>> adjunct faculty - Parsons The New School for Design
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> 
> 
> 
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