BORDERS MP CHALLENGES GOVERNMENT OVER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DIGITAL SWITCHOVER

5.51.11pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 17th Jul 2007

Borders MP Michael Moore has challenged the Government over the environmental impact of digital television switchover. He is calling for set-top boxes provided as part of the switchover help scheme to be fitted with on/off buttons. Advisors from three Government departments - Trade and Industry, Culture, Media and Sport, and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - have estimated that the digital switchover process will lead to a minimum increase in consumer energy use of 1,000 GWh per year. In fact the increase could be as much as 2,800 GWh per year, or nearly half a year's output from a power station. As well as leading to greater levels of greenhouse gases, households will also see a hike in their electricity bills.

Government Ministers have previously backed a campaign to persuade people not to leave electrical devices on standby. It has been estimated that the reduction in electricity if such devices were switched off would lead to a cut in greenhouse gases of half a million tonnes.

Mr Moore is now calling upon the Government to back up their words with action, by introducing a requirement for set-top boxes provided as part of the switchover help scheme to be fitted with on/off buttons.

He said:

"Many set-top boxes have been designed by the manufacturers to be left on standby when not in use. This means that they are permanently consuming electricity. The former Trade and Industry Minister Margaret Hodge MP has said that set-top boxes provided by the help scheme will be expected to meet energy efficiency standards. However, I am now seeking a specific assurance that these set-top boxes will be required to have on/off buttons. Not only will this lessen their environmental impact, but it will also be less costly for the people who receive them, many of whom will be on lower incomes.

It would also send a powerful signal to the manufacturers, as the Government will be purchasing many thousands of these boxes for their help scheme."

Last week the consumer magazine Which? published a report on Freeview set-top boxes. Which? found that many devices were significantly exceeding the recommended level of 2 Watts for maximum electricity usage when in standby mode.