Televisions

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Introduction

Televisions have the highest amount of standby losses of any electronic appliance, with an average standby electricity consumption of 5.4 kWh per year. Depending mostly on screen size, technology type and utilization period, powering your television can cost anywhere from $25 to over $100 in electricity per year. TVs in the U.S. combined consume 50 billion kWh of energy every year, enough electricity to power all the homes in the state of New York for a whole year. ENERGY STAR qualified televisions use an average of 30% less energy than standard sets, helping you save money and the environment.

Technology Options

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display):
LCD TVs come in rear projection, front projection and flat panel.

Rear projection LCDs use one small LCD chip to function whereas traditional Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) TVs need three, large cathode-ray tubes. LCDs are therefore much lighter than CRTs and will take up less floor space. Generally, an LCD that is smaller than 40 inches will consume less energy than an older CRT of comparable size. For example, a 17-inch CRT uses around 80 watts when operational and 5 watts in standby mode, while a 15-inch LCD uses around 25 watts when active and 3 watts on standby.

Flat panel LCDs are popular due to their thin, lightweight construction and ability to be mounted onto walls. Flat panel LCDs, unlike flat panel plasmas come in sizes smaller than 37-inches. They can also use up to 30% less energy than a flat panel plasma of comparable size.

Front projection LCDs project the picture onto a screen up to 300 inches. This particular model is not only lightweight and portable but has very low power consumption. You will however need a wall or screen big enough to project your image.

Plasma:

Known for their fine picture quality, plasma screens are often associated with high-end home entertainment. However if you opt for a plasma, be prepared for your energy bill to rise. Due to their technology, plasmas almost always use more energy than LCDs of similar size to produce the same picture brightness per square inch of the screen. They do not usually come in sizes smaller than 37-inches and are generally much thicker and heavier than LCDs. According to the Wall Street Journal, a 42-inch plasma TV can consume 320 watts, the same amount of energy as a large refrigerator, even if only watched a few hours per day. If you do have your heart set on a plasma screen, make sure it’s ENERGY STAR qualified.

CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube):

These older, more traditional televisions have become less common on store shelves due to the rising popularity of sleeker, more modern flat screens. While CRTs are considered outdated due to their screen size limitations and weight, there isn’t anything wrong with the technology itself. Power limitations, size and weight (some reach more than 200 pounds) generally limit them to a maximum size of 37 inches. Despite their bulk, CRTs have no bulbs to replace and can last for up to a few decades. They are cheaper than plasma and LCD TVs and fairly low in maintenance. However, CRTs tend to use slightly more energy than comparable sized LCDs.

DLP (Digital Light Processing):

DLP TVs are available in both front and rear projection, processing light digitally with the help of a DMD chip (Digital Micro-Mirror Device), which can display over 16 million colors. They contain a $200 lamp inside which must be replaced every 3,000 to 6,000 hours. They are usually lower in price than flat panel plasma and LCD TVs of comparable size and are also far more energy efficient, using a mere 0.13 watts per square inch. Rear projection DLPs are most commonly used for home entertainment systems while front projection DLPs are used in digital cinema production.

Efficiency Benefits

There are approximately 275 billion TVs in U.S. homes today, with each household watching, on average, 4 hours per day. Recently, the average time spent watching TV has risen. Moreover, traditional 24-inch CRTs are now often replaced by larger, power-hungry 42-inch flat screens. These larger, more frequently viewed televisions account for 4% of all household electric use and 1% of nationwide annual electric production (47 billion kilowatt hours). While 90% of that electricity is used when televisions are active, the remaining 10% is actually consumed when your TV is “off” and in standby mode. In order to respond instantaneously to your remote control, most TVs must remain partially awake, never completely shutting off. Standby mode energy consumption can be eliminated by plugging your TV into a power strip and flipping off the switch, or by unplugging your TV.

According to the EPA, if all televisions sold in the U.S. met ENERGY STAR qualifications (using 30% less energy than standard models) annual energy savings would top $1 billion and greenhouse gas emissions would drop by the equivalent of taking one million cars off the road.

  • Turn on the power saver mode. Many TVs these days come with a power saving mode that can help you cut back on power consumption. While this mode can dim the picture quality on some models, the savings can potentially be worth a darker screen.
  • Reduce light output. Remember that you can change the picture settings on your TV. Many TVs are bright by default, leading them to use more power and not necessarily giving you the best picture quality. Turning down the light output will actually maximize the performance of your TV.
  • Control room lighting. Turning on the power saving mode or reducing the light output of your TV can dim the picture. One way to make your dimmed screen regain its brightness is to turn off the light. Limiting light in your home theater not only saves energy but helps you get the most out of your TV.

Manufacturers

Panasonic and LG Electronics are two of the leading manufacturers of ENERGY STAR qualified televisions.

Visit the ENERGY STAR web site for a complete list of ENERGY STAR qualified manufacturers.

Purchasing Tips

  • Look for the ENERGY STAR logo when shopping for your new television. They will use 30% less energy than a non-qualified set while active and no more than 1 watt on standby.
  • The brightness of your flat screen TV can be adjusted. Most TVs are shipped in energy-wasting, overly bright, retail showroom settings, so when you choose a dimmer setting from the TV's on-screen menu, you get improved energy efficiency and picture quality. Look for "Movie" or "Pro" settings to make these changes.
  • Steer clear of larger TVs. For every 10 inches you increase your screen, your TV will use between 50-70% more energy.