Ask Focus on Energy

These boxes convert a digital signal so you may continue to use an analog TV.

A digital-to-analog (DTA) converter box is a device which converts digital television broadcast signals to analog signals. These boxes are currently being sold by a variety of retailers. It is estimated that consumers will purchase as many as 22 million converter boxes with the transition to all-digital broadcasting. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is currently administering a program to help consumers acquire converter boxes, which are expected to cost between $40 and $70, by providing up to two $40 coupons per household to offset the cost of up to two eligible boxes. In the U.S. alone, depending on viewer behavior and product design, EPA estimates that conventional DTAs could consume more than 3 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) per year and cost Americans $270 million annually in additional electricity bills. In order to help reduce these costs look for converter boxes that carry the ENERGY STAR Label.

• DTA converter boxes that have earned the ENERGY STAR consume no more than 8 watts in On Mode and 1 watt in Sleep Mode and automatically power down after four hours or less of user
• If all DTA converter boxes sold in the U.S. met the ENERGY STAR specification, over the lifetime of the products Americans could save approximately 13 billion kWh and $1 billion in energy costs — reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking more than 1 million cars off the road.

Published Sunday, April 19, 2009