Aspects of a method and system for managing an energy efficient network utilizing Audio Video Bridging are provided. Communications on an Ethernet link may be scheduled into a plurality of recurring time slots, where the scheduling comprises reserving resources of the Ethernet link utilizing the Audio Video Bridging suite of protocols. One or more occurrences of one or more of the recurring time slots may be designated for carrying out an energy efficient networking transaction on the link. The energy efficient networking transaction may be carried out during the designated one or more occurrences of the one or more of the recurring time slots. The energy efficient networking transaction may comprise communicating information for scheduling a change in the data rate on the network link. The energy efficient network transaction may comprise communicating information for implementing the change in the data rate.