This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for an energy efficient communication system. The communication system can include a transmitter, a receiver and a communication link for communicating data between the transmitter and the receiver. In some implementations, the receiver determines a signal quality parameter (SQP) value of the received data, and communicates the SQP value to the transmitter. In some implementations, the transmitter adjusts one or more operational parameters of the transmitter to reduce power based on the received SQP value being less than a threshold value. In some implementations, the receiver also adjusts one or more operational parameters of the receiver based on the SQP value being less than a threshold value. In some implementations, the receiver can communicate the SQP value to the transmitter over out-of-band communication links.