1

SetTopBoxes

BackgroundNotes:
Settopboxesaremajorpowerconsumers,individuallyandcollectively,generallyconsideredthirdin
importancebehindcomputersandtelevisions.Thevastmajorityofhouseholdshavesettopboxes.
Eveninidlemode,theboxesaremajorconsumers.
Shuttingtheboxoffisnotreallyanoptionbecausearestarttakestoomuchtimeforconsumersto
tolerate(cablesystemmustdownloadupdatedprograminformation)
Generallytheenduserdoesnotgetachoiceofwhichboxtousebutdoeshavetopaytheenergybill.
Neitherthemanufacturernorthecablecompanyhasmuchincentivetoproduceefficientequipment.
Settopboxeshavebeenconsideredforregulatoryactionforyearsbutlittleregulatoryactionhasbeen
completed.
Themarketandthetechnicalquestionsarecomplicatedbecauseofnewtrendsandconfigurations
WebTV,3DTV,DVRs.

SampleProposalIdeas:
Givemanufacturersorcableprovidersanincentivetoimprovetheenergyefficiencyoftheirsystems.
Reconfiguretheprogrammingsystems.
Idleindividualcomponents(storage,tuner,etc.)atvarioustimes.
Makeindividualcomponentsorcircuitsinherentlymoreefficient.

StarterBibliography:
TomHarbert,Lasthopeforretailsettopboxes?July20,2010,http://www.edn.com/article/509849
Last_hope_for_retail_set_top_boxes_.php.
RichardKirsche,AServiceProviderPerspectivePromotingENERGYSTARSetTopDeployment
(Chicago,IL,September24,2009),
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/downloads/meetings/Comcast_Set
Top_Box_Presentation.pdf.
ChrisNuttall,WebTVsbiggerformanufacturersthan3D,FinancialTimesTechnology,August29,
2010,http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/0b34043a9fe311df8cc500144feabdc0.html.
ConsortiumforEnergyEfficiency,ConsumerElectronicsProgramGuide(2008).
LeoRainer,ProposalInformationTemplatefor:DigitalSetTopBoxes(PacificGas&Electric
Company,January30,2008),
http://www.energy.ca.gov/appliances/2008rulemaking/documents/200802
01_documents/templates/PG+E_Digital_SetTop_Boxes_Template.pdf.
Hewan Tomlinson and Kathleen Vokes, ENERGY STAR Set-top Box Program Updates, J anuary 13,
2010, http://www.cee1.org/cee/mtg/01-10mtg/files/ElectronicsTomlinsonVokes.pdf.
J ohn Wilson, California Interests in Set-Top Boxes, 2003, http://www.iea.org/work/2003/set-
top/Wilson.pdf.
Peter May-Ostendorp, Tuning in to Energy Efficiency: Prospects for Energy Savings in TV Set-Top
Boxes (Natural Resources Defense Council, undated),
http://www.efficientproducts.org/reports/stbs/NRDC_SetTopBoxes_Brochure_FINAL.pdf.

2

MedicalDevices

BackgroundNotes:
Littleisknownaboutenergyusebymedicaldevices,eitherindividuallyorintotal,butthesheer
numberandvarietysuggestalargetotalamountofenergyisconsumed.
However,therehasbeenconsiderableattentiontoenergyusebyhospitalandmedicalbuildings
HVAC,lighting,etc.
TherangeofdevicestoconsideriswidefromelectronicthermometerstoofficelevelEKGmonitors
tohugeCATScanmachines.
Thereforethistopicisattractiveasanewconcern.
MedicaldevicesarealsoregulatedbytheFDA;safetyandefficacymustcomefirst.
Someelectronicdevicesthatnormallyareregulatedforenergyefficiencyaregivenexemptionforuse
inmedicaldevices.
Afewfirmshavepromotedtheirefforts,e.g.GEandWelchAllyn,andEuropeseemstobeaheadof
theU.S.
Calit2hasaspecialinterestbecauseithasrelatedprojectsintheuseofITformedicalcare,andOCisa
majorcenterforthemedicaldeviceindustry.

SampleProposalIdeas:
Labmeasurementsofarangeofdevices,withinadevicecategoryoracrosstheindustry
Detailedreviewofthedevicemarkets(theresalotofliteratureavailable)
Componentanalysisofparticulardevices
Asurveyofdoctorsand/orhospitaladministrators
Astudyofenergysavingsfromtheuseoftelemedicine
Newtestproceduresforenergyusebymedicaldevices

StarterBibliography:
DavidNiewolny,Addressingportablemedicaldeviceneeds,EDATechForum,undated,
http://www.edatechforum.com/edatopics/embedded/addressingportablemedicaldeviceneeds/.
WelchAllyn,WelchAlynJoinstheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyENERGYSTART(M)
Partnership,WelchAllyn,August25,2009,
http://www.welchallyn.com/pressroom/releases/pressNews.jsp?id=19pe1081251222749154.
U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,2010DOE/EPAPartnershipWorkPlan,May7,2010,
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/downloads/mou/2010_DOEES_Work_Plan.pdf.
BrettC.Singer,JenniferL.Coughlin,andPaulMathew,SummaryofInformationandResourcesRelatedto
EnergyUseinHospitalsVersion1.0(LawrenceBerkeleyNationalLaboratory,October2009),
http://hightech.lbl.gov/documents/healthcare/lbnl2744e.pdf.
EnergyStar,IndustrialPartners:ENERGYSTAR,undated,
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=industry.bus_industry_partners.
NationalInstitutesofHealth,DevelopmentofEfficientTableTopLaserProducedPlasmaSourcesfor
WaterWindowMicroscopy1R21RR02622001,NIHRePORTER,September2010,
http://projectreporter.nih.gov/project_info_description.cfm?aid=7762372&icde=5272697.
3

GeneralElectricCompany,GEHealthcareandMedicalDeviceIndustryCommittoReducingEnergy
UseofUltrasoundProducts,GENewsCenter,April26,2010,
http://www.genewscenter.com/content/Detail.aspx?NewsAreaID=2&ReleaseID=10171.
IIDEnergyDepartment,MedicalEquipmentEnergyUsageAssistanceProgram(MEEUAP),undated,
http://www.iid.com/Energy/MedicalEquipmentEnergyUsageAssistanceProgram(MEEUAP).
BizTimes,GEHealthcarecommitstocuttingultrasoundenergyconsumption,BizTimes.com,April26,
2010,http://www.biztimes.com/daily/2010/4/26/gehealthcarecommitstocuttingultrasound
energyconsumption.

OfficeElectronics

BackgroundNotes:
Itisknownthatofficesconsumemajoramountsofenergyforcomputers,monitors,printers,etc.,and
thatusersareoftencarelesse.g.,leavingitemsonovernight.
Therehavebeensomeauditsofequipmentuseinactualoffices.
Varioussmartstripandnetworkpossibilitieshavebeenproposedandtried.

SampleProposalIdeas:
Adifferent/betterauditofanofficetoclarifysomepoint
Areviewofpastprogramsforlessonslearned
Fieldexperimentswithsmartstrips,orwithvarioustypesofequipment
Newsensorsystemsforpowercontrol
Improveddesignsforidlemodes
Enterprisewidepoliciesthathaveworked(ornot)
DCsupplysystems

StarterBibliography:
New Technologies Could Reduce Energy Consumption of Office Equipment by 70% (2005)
http://www.tiaxllc.com/aboutus/pdfs/press_releases/doe_energy_consumption_prsrel_033105.html.
Mira Vowles, Extreme Office Makeover, October 22, 2009,
http://www.utilityexchange.org/docs/CUE2009ExtremeOfficeMakeover_Vowles.pdf.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ENERGY STAR Small Network Equipment Draft Specification
Framework, October 2009, http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/prod_development
/new_specs/downloads/small_network_equip/SNE_Draft_Framework_V1_0.pdf.
J udy Roberson et al., After-hours Power Status of Office Equipment and Inventory of Miscellaneous Plug-
Load Equipment (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, May 2004),
http://enduse.lbl.gov/Info/LBNL-53729.pdf.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, New York Energy $mart Offices
Project, 2004, http://www.nyserda.org/programs/offices/.
DoItYourself.com, Home Office Equipment Energy, 2008,
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/officeequipment.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Energy-Efficiency Improvements in U.S. Office Equipment,
Energy End-Use Forecasting, August 19, 2004, http://enduse.lbl.gov/Projects/OffEqpt.html.
City of Irvine, Office Equipment and Energy Use, City of Irvine, undated,
http://www.cityofirvine.org/about/econdev/energy_incentives/office_equipment_basics.asp.

Home/OfficeAudioSystems

BackgroundNotes:
Thereislittleornoregulationofenergyusebyhomesoundsystems.Therearevariousregulationsfor
compactaudiosystems.
Themarketforsurroundsoundandmultiroomsystemsisgrowingrapidly.Theincreaseduseof
largeTVsystemsispartofwhatsdrivingthemarket.
Somesoundsystemsnowevenincludedevicestovibratefurniture
Relativelymoreattentionhasbeengiventobatterypoweredmobile/embeddedaudiosystems

SampleProposalIdeas:
Energyconsumptionofrepresentativesystemsmeasuredinthelab
Analysisofthemarketgrowthcategoriesofdevices,marketsegments,etc.
Moreefficientcomponents
AchievingconsensusonHDMIprotocols

StarterBibliography:
J oseph Palenchar, Multi-room A/V Gets New Brands, Capabilities, TWICE (This Week In Consumer
Electronics), September 23, 2010, http://www.twice.com/article/457434-
Multi_room_A_V_Gets_New_Brands_Capabilities.php.
Blair J ackson, Sound gets 3D upgrade: Mixers and theaters alike moving ahead with upgrades, J une 19,
2010, http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118020814.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&ref=bd_film.
Environmental Protection Agency, Audio & DVD Key Product Criteria: ENERGY STAR, October 7,
2010, http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=audio_dvd.pr_crit_audio_dvd.
A.B. Kinsman and N. Nicolici, An energy-efficient architecture for MPEG-2 audio/video decoding,
IEEE Xplore, 2010, http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=4683400.
RCA Corporation, Energy Sipping RCA Audio/Video Products Can Help Trim Home Power
Consumption, RCA Press Room, J uly 11, 2007, http://home.rca.com/en-
US/PressReleaseDetail.html?Cat=RCAAudioVideo&MN=113.

SmartPowerStrips,HomeAreaNetworks

BackgroundNotes:
Manyfirmshaveenteredthismarket;itisgrowingrapidly.ThebigfirmsorgroupsincludeZigBee
Alliance,Control4,ZWaveAlliance,HomePlugPowerlineAlliance,andmore.Manystartupsare
offeringsmartstripsorothercomponents.
Systemsrangefromsimplesmartpowerstripstowholehousesystemsthatcontrollights,appliances,
security.Wiredorwireless;sometiedtoInternetandmobilephones.

SampleProposalIdeas:
Testsmartstripsinthelabtoevaluatepowersavings
Developorevaluateteststandardsfordoingso
Developnewsensorandcontrolsystems
ImplementDCsupplysystems
5

StarterBibliography:
CORDISICT,Astherefrigeratorsaidtothehifi,EuropeanUnionCORDIS,
http://cordis.europa.eu/ictresults/index.cfm?section=news&tpl=article&BrowsingType=Features&ID=
91085.
CMcParland,HomeNetworkTechnologiesandAutomatingDemandResponse(PIERDemandResponse
ResearchCenter,December2008),http://drrc.lbl.gov/pubs/lbnl3093e.pdf.
IHS,Inc.,ITUApprovesG.hnStandardforWiredHomeNetworks,IHSElectronics,November5,2009,
http://electronics.ihs.com/news/2009/itughnhomenetworks110509.html.htm?wbc_purpose
=http%3a&WBCMODE=PresentationUnpub%2cPresentationUnpub%2cPresentationUnpub.
LillieConey,CommentsoftheElectronicPrivacyInformationCenter(EPIC)onProposedPoliciesand
FindingsPertainingtotheEISAStandardRegardingSmartGridandCustomerPrivacy(Electronic
PrivacyInformationCenter,December18,2008),
EcosConsulting,SmartPlugStrips:DraftReport(July22,2009),http://www.efficientproducts.org
/reports/smartplugstrip/EcosSmartPlugStripsDRAFTJul2009v2x.pdf.
AlladiVenkatesh,DigitalHomeTechnologiesandTransformationofHouseholds,InformationSystems
Frontiers10,no.4(September2008):391395.
D.J.Hammerstrometal.,PacificNorthwestGridWiseTestbedDemonstrationProjects,PartII:GridFriendly
ApplianceProject(PacificNorthwestNationalLaboratory,October2007),
http://gridwise.pnl.gov/docs/gfa_project_final_report_pnnl17079.pdf.
ElectricPowerResearchInstitute,IPAddressableSmartAppliancesforDemandResponseApplications
(ElectricPowerResearchInstitute(availableforpurchasebymemberinstitutions),undated),
http://my.epri.com/portal/server.pt?space=CommunityPage&cached=true&parentname=ObjMgr
&parentid=2&control=SetCommunity&CommunityID=404&RaiseDocID=000000000001016080
&RaiseDocType=Abstract_id.
ZigBeeAlliance,ZigBee:TheChoiceofEnergyManagementandEfficiency(ZigBeeAlliance,June2007),
http://www.zigbee.org/LearnMore/WhitePapers/tabid/257/Default.aspx.
ElectricPowerResearchInstitute,DevelopmentofaCommonApplianceConnectorforDemandResponse
(April2009),http://mydocs.epri.com/docs/public/000000000001018914.pdf.
ElectricPowerResearchInstitute,AssessmentofResidentialEnergyManagementSystemsforDemand
ResponseApplications(availableforpurchasebymemberinstitutions),December22,2009),
http://my.epri.com/portal/server.pt?space=CommunityPage&cached=true&parentname=ObjMgr
&parentid=2&control=SetCommunity&CommunityID=404&RaiseDocID=000000000001017881
&RaiseDocType=Abstract_id.
http://www.smarthome.com/_/INSTEON/_/23b/nav.aspx?Ns=New&src=WG1002597&gclid
=CImOrvXjwaQCFRz4iAodN2T7Bw

EnergyUsebySoftware

BackgroundNotes:
Couldorshouldchangesinsoftwaresaveenergy,bystreamliningprocessesoravoidingsteps
thatarenotneededincertaincircumstances?
6

Thisconcernisabouttheprocessingsoftwareitself,notaboutsoftwaredesignedtomonitor
andcontrolenergyuse.
Thisisafairlynewareaofconcern;theliteratureonenergyusebysoftwareissmall.
Highperformanceandenergyefficiencymaybecorrelatedforsometasks,butnotforall.
Gamesoftwarecouldbeafieldforsignificantchanges.

SampleProposalIdeas
Comparisonsofstandardcommercialpackages(e.g.differentbrowsersorwordprocessors)
forvarioustasks
Energysavingchangestowidelyusedsoftwaresystems

StarterBibliography
CodyTaylorandJonathanKoomey,WorkingPaper:Estimatingenergyuseandgreenhousegasemissionsof
Internetadvertising.(iMC2,February14,2008),<http://imc2.com/Documents/CarbonEmissions.pdf>.
NadineAmselandBillTomlinson,GreenTracker:AToolforEstimating
theEnergyConsumptionofSoftware(presentedattheCHI2010,Atlanta,GA,April2010),
http://delivery.acm.org/10.1145/1760000/1753981/p3337amsel.pdf?key1=1753981&key2
=5515425721&coll=GUIDE&dl=GUIDE&CFID=15151515&CFTOKEN=6184618.
EricSaxe,PowerEfficientSoftware,acmqueue,January8,2010,
http://queue.acm.org/detail.cfm?searchterm=power&id=1698225.
DavidJ.BrownandCharlesReams,TowardEnergyEfficientComputing,acmqueue,February17,2010,
http://queue.acm.org/detail.cfm?id=1730791.

BehavioralStudies
BackgroundNotes:
Thereiswideconsensusthatengineeringtheefficiencyofeachdeviceinahomeorofficeisnot
sufficient;variationsinuserbehaviormayoverwhelmtechnicalvariations.
Manystudieshavebeendonebutallarelimitedinsomeway;muchmoreresearchisneeded.
Howdoconsumersreacttoelectricorgasprices?
Howdoconsumersreacttosocialmessages,socialpressure?
Whatcategorizationofusersmattersmostforenergyuseattitudes,age,gender,income,or
somethingelse?

SampleProposalIdeas:
Defineanissueorasocialgroupthatneedsmorecarefulinvestigation.
Determinewhatformsoffeedbackaremostusefulforresidentialconsumersindailylife.
Manyformsofstudycouldbeusefulauditsofreallifehomesandoffices,questionnaires,lab
experiments.

StarterBibliography:
Thereisahugeliteraturebutfewprovenconclusionsandmanycallsformoreresearch.Sonewprojects
areneededbutmustbecarefullyconstructed.
7

AndyFrank,ResidentialEnergyEfficiency:ItstheBehavior,Stupid,EnergyCentral,May11,2009,
http://www.energycentral.com/intelligentutility/demandresponseandhan
/articles/2036/ResidentialEnergyEfficiencyItstheBehaviorStupid/.
AlanFogartyandJohnLane,Howindividualbehaviorisacriticalingredientofanyenergyreduction
plan,FMLink,February7,2008,http://www.fmlink.com/ProfResources
/Magazines/article.cgi?FM%20World:fmworld021108.html.
[EPRI2010a]ElectricPowerResearchInstitute,GuidelinesforDesigningEffectiveEnergyInformation
FeedbackPilots:ResearchProtocols(PaloAlto,CA:ElectricPowerResearchInstitute,April23,2010),
http://my.epri.com/portal/server.pt?space=
CommunityPage&cached=true&parentname=ObjMgr&parentid=2&control=SetCommunity&Commu
nityID=404&RaiseDocID=000000000001016875&RaiseDocType=Abstract_idConsumerElectronics
Association,CEAStudyFindsHomeownersUsingElectronicstoReduceHomeEnergyCosts,
April15,2009,http://www.ce.org/Press/CurrentNews/press_release_detail.asp?id=11715
WillAndersonandVickiWhite,ExploringConsumerPreferencesforHomeEnergyDisplayFunctionality
(CenterforSustainableEnergy,August2009)
K.CarrieArmel,BehaviorandEnergy(PrecourtInstituteforEnergyEfficiency,February27,2008),
http://piee.stanford.edu/cgi
bin/docs/publications/Armel_Behavior_and_Energy_Presentation_with_Notes
%20for%20home%20energy%20display%20functionality%20FINAL.pdf.
PhilCarson,ConsumerBehaviorandElectricityUsage,IntelligentUtility,June16,2010,
http://www.intelligentutility.com/article/10/06/consumerbehaviorandelectricityusage.
MarkClayton,Energyusefallswhenneighborscompete,ChristianScienceMonitor,Sept.30,2009,
http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/09/30/energyusefallswhenneighborscompete/.
KarenEhrhardtMartinez,JohnA.Laitner,andKennethM.Keating,PursuingEnergyEfficientBehaviorin
aRegulatoryEnvironment:MotivatingPolicymakers,ProgramAdministrators,andProgramImplementers,
WorkingPapersonBehavior(CaliforniaInstituteforEnergyandEnvironment,August2009),
http://ucciee.org/energyeff/documents/Motivating_Policymakers_rev.pdf.
MichaelJ.Sullivan,UsingExperimentstoFosterInnovationandImprovetheEffectivenessofEnergyEfficiency
Programs,WorkingPapersonBehavior(CaliforniaInstituteforEnergyandEnvironment,March
2009),http://ucciee.org/energyeff/documents/exp_design_wp.pdf.
AlladiVenkatesh,DigitalHomeTechnologiesandTransformationofHouseholds,InformationSystems
Frontiers10,no.4(September2008):391395.
MatthewWiggins,KurtisMcKenney,andJamesBrodrick,ResidentialEnergyMonitoring,ASHRAE
Journal(June2009):8889.