Putting the internet boxes on hold is obviously one of the challenges for the government, which presents its great sobriety plan this Thursday. Thus, in the executive’s press kit, the issue of boxes and decoders is part of the new measures.
This is usually the case with TV set-top boxes, which go into standby mode automatically, but not necessarily with internet boxes where standby is usually manual. For example, it may be appropriate to turn Wi-Fi off at night.
A modest economy?
The issue of the internet box is not new. In July, the government spokesman, Olivier Véran, proposed as a daily gesture “disconnect the Wi-Fi” before going out for the weekend or on vacation.
According to Ademe, an Internet box consumes an average of 97 kWh/year, or 2% of the total electricity consumption of a French household (as much as a washing machine). That’s almost twice as much as a TV.
By turning off Wi-Fi every weekend and during five weeks of vacation, you would save an average of 37 kWh/year, or 0.8% of your annual electricity consumption.
On the other hand, it is more interesting in general: in a recent note, Arcep estimated that, “used a few hours a day on average, Internet boxes that are permanently on have a consumption in Europe equivalent to the production of two or three Nuclear reactors”.
Source: BFM TV
