> they use more energy than any other home appliance, excepting air conditioning used in hot climates.

Hmm... the graph shows 35 W. This standard full-size fridge http://www.danby.com/en/US/our_products/refrigeration/dff100... is rated for 375.6 kWh yearly, that is 42.9 W average. A mostly-idle Mac mini specced around 20-30 W would use well under 10 W on average.

Certainly it sounds like DVRs need to improve.