ENERGY STAR Begins Work on Small Network Equipment Spec

February 3, 2010 - The team at ENERGY STAR continues to go after energy hogs in homes and offices. The next group of products coming under the ENERGY STAR umbrella is small network equipment (SNE). This includes: wired routers and switches, access points with IEEE 802.11 (a.k.a. "wi-fi") connectivity (including repeaters), broadband modems (DSL and cable), integrated home access devices (IHAD), and optical network termination devices (ONT).

When you think about these products, it makes perfect sense that they should be included in the ENERGY STAR program. After all, most of these are plugged into the wall 24-7. That, coupled with the tens of millions of units sold each year, makes a compelling case for establishing a standard for efficiency.

Last October, ENERGY STAR published a draft specification framework and in November a stakeholder meeting was held. In December, test procedure information was sent to stakeholders and first round feedback was submitted. (Further details, along with stakeholder feedback can be found on the ENERGY STAR website.)

The initial approach in developing this spec will most likely include promotion of power management through the use of auto power down (APD), encouraging low power consumption at typical conditions – on, sleep, and off, and harmonizing test methods (with the EC Code of Conduct*) where possible.

* NOTE: A distinction exists between ENERGY STAR and the EC Code of Conduct (CoC). The CoC sets requirements for a percentage of new products for participant companies at baseline efficiency levels and then sets procurement levels by company. ENERGY STAR sets its levels on a product-by-product basis. The ENERGY STAR goal is to identify the top 25% of efficient products in each market.

Additional subjects under discussion include:

• 802.3az (Energy Efficient Ethernet)
• Automatic unused port power down
• Adaptive port power based on cable length
• Ability to enable/disable PoE
• Power supply efficiency

The exact date for the final spec is still to be determined. Check back soon for updates.