Topic: 'Auto Standby' feature to help reduce energy

[Clive]

A new feature which will automatically switch inactive Sky HD and Sky+ boxes into standby mode overnight is to be launched within weeks.

The 'Auto Standby' feature will help customers reduce their household energy bills.

The new feature will be sent automatically to all Sky HD boxes from tomorrow and then to all Sky+ boxes, in stages, from mid April and throughout the Summer. This new enhancement forms part of Sky's plans for ensuring its products are as energy efficient as possible. Since the launch of Sky digital, the energy consumption of Sky?s new standard boxes has been reduced by 50% and Sky plans to rollout 'Auto Standby' to the majority of its customers by mid next year.

It will start to be downloaded to Sky HD customers from Tuesday 20th March. It will then start to be sent to Sky+ boxes manufactured after August 2005 between 18th and 24th April 2007. All other Sky+ boxes will receive 'Auto Standby' later this summer. Sky is also exploring the potential to deliver Auto Standby to standard Sky boxes.

The new feature monitors whether people are using their Sky+ or Sky HD box overnight between 11.00pm and 4.00am. If the box has not been used for a period of two hours after 11.00pm, an 'Auto Standby' warning will pop up on screen for three minutes. If there is no further use the box will go into Standby mode automatically.

Ben Stimson, Director of Corporate Responsibility at Sky said: "Energy use is a growing priority for companies and consumers alike so we want to help our customers to cut their bills and reduce their environmental impact. We advise all our customers to switch their Sky box to standby when not in use. But for those occasions when people forget, 'Auto Standby' will be there to help out. This is a UK first whose effects will add up to a significant reduction in energy consumption for our customers."

Robin Oakley, Senior Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace, added: "Sky is among the few companies forging ahead to cut out energy wastage in their products, it's time this became the priority for companies producing all our appliances. Even apparently small things like appliances that switch themselves off when we forget can make massive CO2 and energy savings when multiplied across the population."

[Simon]

That sounds like a good idea, but it's hardly new technology.  My 10 year old VCR has an 'auto standby' function, that switches it to standby after 3 hours of inactivity, and most DVD players will auto standby after about 15 minutes of non-use.  I wonder how Sky's function will affect timer recordings?  If one wanted to record a film from 11pm to, say 1:30am, will the machine then be deemed 'active' for the timer recording period?

[DJ]

My Sky+ box is always on standby at night and it records fine whilst its in standby mode.  Not sure of the increase in energy during the recording process though.

DJ