Tune into TV Energy Savings
So you’ve bought an ENERGY STAR-qualified TV to save energy. But there’s even more you can do to boost your TV’s efficiency. TVs are bigger than they used to be. And some of the largest ones can use as much electricity each year as a new, conventional refrigerator. Plus, the average American household owns 2.93 TVs. All of this energy use can add up to about 4% of residential use.
In response to consumer concerns, TV manufacturers are designing sets that use less energy without sacrificing screen size or resolution, and ENERGY STAR-qualified TVs use roughly 40 percent less energy than standard models.
TIPS FOR YOUR ALL TVS
Here are a few things YOU can do to reduce the energy your TV consumes:
• Of course, if the set is left on when
no one is watching, that costs money.
• Many high-definition TVs come with a quick start option. By turning it off, you’ll save energy and add only a few seconds to start-up times.
• Turn on the power saver mode, which many new TVs offer.
• Turn down the LCD’s backlight— you’ll save energy and still retain picture quality.
• Control room lighting. While many energysaving tips reduce brightness of the screen, you can compensate.
In many cases, even if you hit the “off” button your TV could still consume power. Use a power strip as a central “turn off” point. When you’re not watching TV and not planning to record a program later, simply flip the strip’s “off” button.
SHOPPING FOR A NEW TV
If you are in the market to buy a new TV, here is some information to help you with energy savings:
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High-Definition = High Energy Use. A high-definition TV (HDTV) generally uses more power because of better picture clarity. Energy consumption often relates to screen size. The larger the screen, the more electricity required. Four types of TVs are currently available: plasma, liquid-crystal display (LCD), rear projection, and cathode ray tube (CRT).
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CRT televisions are the most difficult to find because they employ old technology and screen sizes rarely top 40 inches.
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Plasma screens often are cited as the largest energy user mainly because their large 42 inch to 65 inch screens typically draw between 240 watts to 400 watts. Most consume electricity even when turned off.
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LCD TVs don’t need much power to operate: 111 watts on average. Most LCD screens range in size from 21 inches to 49 inches. These TVs fall into two categories: those with cold-cathode fluorescent lamps to illuminate the screen; and backlit models employing a light-emitting diode (LED). LED units offer several benefits, notably better picture quality and thinner and lighter screens. They also use slightly less energy, at 101 watts.
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Rear projection televisions tend to be the most energy efficient and boast the largest screen sizes. However, due to their overall weight, rear projection sets are not as readily available as plasma and LCD models.
Shopping for an energy-efficient television can be difficult. Television manufacturers rarely advertise energy consumption, and it almost never appears on in-store labels, though new ENERGY STAR® requirements may change that in 2012. Faced with these difficulties, consumers need to conduct their own energy use research through unbiased online sources such as CNET.com, an online journal for the technology industry. Look for specific model numbers,which you can take to the store.