Energy Efficiency Voluntary Agreements

For the continued improvement in the energy efficiency of Set-Top Boxes and Small Network Equipment used by consumers of US residential video and broadband internet services.

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Industry and energy efficiency advocates collaborate in two historic initiatives to make set-top boxes and residential broadband equipment more energy efficient, saving consumers money and reducing carbon emissions from power plants in a manner that also promotes flexibility and innovation.

  • The Set-Top Box (STB) Voluntary Agreement, established in 2012, covers the set-top boxes that consumers obtain from cable, satellite, or telephone companies that service more than 90% of the U.S. pay-TV market.
  • The Small Network Equipment (SNE) Voluntary Agreement, established in 2015, covers Internet modems, routers, and other equipment that deliver broadband service to more than 85% of the U.S. residential broadband market.

These award-winning programs have been heralded by the U.S. Department of Energy for “sav[ing] families money by saving energy, while delivering high quality appliances for consumers that keep pace with technological innovation,” and by the International Energy Agency’s Global Commission for Urgent Action on Energy Efficiency for promoting energy efficiency without placing “a ceiling on innovation” or “compromising … competitiveness.”

Agreements & Reports

Set-Top Box
Voluntary Agreement

The Voluntary Agreement for Ongoing Improvements in the Energy Efficiency of Set-Top Boxes (STB) was adopted to drive improvements in the energy efficiency of STBs while encouraging innovation and competition. Signatories include all of the major cable, satellite and telco service providers representing more than 90% of the U.S. pay-TV market, as well as major manufacturers and energy efficiency advocates. The Department of Energy hailed both the initial agreement with the advocates in 2013 and the extension of the agreement in 2018.

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Small Network Equipment
Voluntary Agreement

The primary objective of the Voluntary Agreement for Ongoing Improvements in the Energy Efficiency of Small Network Equipment (SNE) agreement is to increase the energy efficiency of equipment used to access residential broadband Internet access services while promoting rapid innovation and timely introduction of new features for consumers. Participants in the agreement include all of the largest Internet service providers and many major manufacturers.

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Set-Top Box Signatories

American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy Altice Appliance Standards Awareness Project AT&T Comcast Commscope Cox Communications Direct TV Dish Echostar Frontier Communications Natural Resources Defense Council Sagemcom Spectrum Vantiva Verizon

Small Network Equipment Signatories

Actiontec Altice Asus AT&T Comcast Commscope Cox Communications Eero Frontier Communications Google Linksys Lumen Netgear Plume Sagemcom Spectrum TP-Link Ubee Interactive Vantiva Verizon

Supporting Organizations

CableLabs

CableLabs is a non-profit research and development consortium that is dedicated to creating innovative ideas that significantly impact our cable operator members' business. CableLabs also serves to define interoperable solutions among our members and their technology vendors in order to drive scale, reduce costs, and create competition in the supply chain. CableLabs membership is comprised of the major cable operators worldwide.

Consumer Technology Association

As North America’s largest technology trade association, CTA® is the tech sector. Our members are the world’s leading innovators – from startups to global brands – helping support more than 18 million American jobs. CTA owns and produces CES® – the most influential tech event in the world. Find us at CTA.tech. Follow us @CTAtech.

NCTA

NCTA - The Internet & Television Association, is the principal trade association for the U.S. cable industry, representing cable operators that deliver advanced digital services to consumers and businesses throughout urban and rural America, and more than 200 cable program networks that produce TV’s most creative and popular shows. The U.S. cable industry is the largest provider of high-speed internet access, serving more than 82 million customers, after investing $310 billion over the last two decades to build robust broadband networks that reach 90 percent of American homes. The cable industry supports 2.9 million American jobs and there are at least 300 cable employees in every congressional district.

More Information & News

Energy Information

Get more information on what some signatories are doing, including details of the energy performance of their devices.

News

Track the latest developments from the industry's energy saving efforts.