Pace delivers on 'Green' commitment
Rolling out new generation of lower environmental impact boxes
September 10 2009
Pace plc, following the launch of its pioneering environmental initiative at IBC 2008, has started to rollout a new generation of ‘Low Environmental Impact’ set-top boxes for the payTV market.
Pace’s new product designs are part of a long-term commitment to environmental issues, in particular reducing set-top box power consumption, not just in Pace products, but supporting target setting for the industry. Pace has consistently driven down set-top box power consumption across the entire usage cycle, not just in the high-profile arena of stand-by power. For example, over the last three years, total power consumption in Pace’s high definition PVRs has been reduced by over 70%. Pace will continue to drive down power consumption, enabling Pace’s customers to exceed any energy saving initiative – mandatory or voluntary – anywhere in the world.
Pace has been committed to set-top box energy efficiency for over 10 years. During this time Pace has launched products in markets around the world that at the very least meet and typically exceed local energy saving codes. For example, Pace was first to launch Energy Star compliant products in the US in 2002 and 2008, and the hardware design of every Pace product complies with or exceeds the EU Code of Conduct1 , Energy Star2 and MEPs guidelines3 . All of Pace’s set-top box designs utilise the Group’s own ‘Design for Environment’ criteria to ensure, even in regions where no guidelines exist, Pace products are energy efficient.
Richard Slee, President Pace, commented: “Our goal is to be the world-leader in low environmental impact (LEI) set-top boxes. Pace has delivered an impressive set of environmental firsts, most recently being first to design a less than 1 watt stand-by complex set-top box. As a result we believe our products are amongst the most energy efficient consumer electronics products in the world. And have been for some time as we recognise how growing global demand for the products we create, which increasingly include more advanced and power hungry applications, requires a responsible environmental balance.”
“Pace has consistently gone beyond the standards, always meeting legislative targets in advance of industry deadlines, giving our customers complete confidence that their products are not just at the leading edge of digital TV technology, but also leading in environmental performance.
David McKinney, Pace’s Chief Operating Officer and ‘Pace environmental tsar’ added: “The environment is part of our DNA. We have led the development of energy efficient products and standards for our market, while at the same time taking action to reduce our environmental impact across all aspects of our business, from our buildings to our operations and supply chain. We have already completed the first phase of a complete supply chain review, which will enable us to work with our supply partners to improve the entire environmental footprint of our set-top box products. This is a track record and future plan we can be proud of.”
Note to editors
Paces Low Environmental Initiative (LEI) targets three areas of greatest environmental impact for the set-top box industry:
- Power consumption – the hardware design of every Pace product from this point onwards will comply with or exceed the EU Code of Conduct, EnergyStar and MEPS guidelines . In regions where no guidelines exist, Pace will apply the closest guidelines to these areas . Pace will work with its key partners to drive compliance across all aspects of the final product, including software.
- Packaging – all materials used in the packaging of Pace products will be 100% recyclable. Pace is setting a minimum standard of 50% of all materials used in packaging to be sourced from recycled materials.
- Hazardous substances – Pace is going beyond current legislation with its own extensive ‘Restricted Substances’ list. Pace will phase out any additional hazardous substances from all future products going forwards.
1 - EU Code of Conduct applies to all products sold in the European Union.
2 - EnergyStar relates to all products sold in the United States. MEPS (Minimum Energy Performance Standard) applies to products sold in Australia and New Zealand.
3 - MEPs is the Australian standard. For information on these guidelines visit
http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/energyefficiency/html/standby_initiative_digital%20tv%20services.htm
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=revisions.settop_box_spec
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=dta.pr_dta
http://www.energyrating.gov.au/considered.html#electronics
