Tory plea on 'wasteful' TV set-top boxes

Published on Wednesday 22 August 2007 12:43

THE Government is being challenged to make sure the switch-over to digital television does not mean a surge in energy use.

Scottish Tories say many of the set-top boxes which older TVs need to receive the new signal are designed to be left permanently on "stand-by" which means they will be using electricity all the time.

And today the party's environment spokeswoman, Nanette Milne, called for the boxes to be fitted with on/off buttons.

She said: "Televisions on standby are a needless contributor to damaging greenhouse emissions and digital set-top boxes are set to add to this environmental harm.

"Government ministers have previously backed a campaign to persuade people not to leave electrical devices on standby. The reduction in electricity if such devices were switched off would lead to a significant cut in greenhouse gases."

The switchover will take place region by region, starting with ITV's Borders region in 2008, followed by STV in 2010.