Energy ratings for flat screens more accurate
December 2, 2008
I’m in the market for a large, flat-screen television. Given their size, should I be concerned about using more energy, and does one type use less energy than another?
Flat-screen TVs are sure to be on a lot of shopping lists this holiday season. Luckily, shopping for energy-efficient models got a whole lot easier Nov. 1, when Energy Star updated its energy efficiency ratings on televisions.
Televisions carrying the familiar Energy Star label will use about 30 percent less energy than a conventional unit, according to Energy Star. Previously, Energy Star rated a television’s energy use only when the TV was in the standby mode and turned off, while these new ratings rank TVs when operating.
The Energy Star Web site, which is energystar.gov, offers a list of all Energy Star models and a searchable database to make your research easier.
There are also some guidelines to keep in mind. The new liquid crystal display, or LCD, models use much less power than older cathode ray tube, or CRT, sets of equal size. However, if you’re moving up to a big screen, the energy savings most likely will be canceled out just by the size of the new unit. The larger the screen, the more energy it’ll use.
Plasma televisions typically are less efficient than LCDs. But as you review Energy Star’s list of qualified TVs, you’ll notice the wide range of energy use even within each of the categories.
Several options available on new televisions can help save energy, however. Look for a “home viewing” option in the set-up menu. This setting uses less energy than the more vivid screen settings typically set by manufacturers to entice shoppers. The TV may offer other options such as dimming an LCD’s backlighting based upon the on-screen image. Some TVs carry light sensors that automatically adjust the picture brightness according to the ambient light in the room. Some even have automatic timers that will turn off the television if no channels have been changed or no commands have been made over a certain period of time, which is ideal if you’re one who falls asleep during the game.
It’s important also to remember that all the other bells and whistles that entertain us also use electricity, such as the DVD player, the cable box and the video game console. The Natural Resource Defense Council estimates that televisions and associated electronics account for more than 10 percent of an average household’s annual electricity use. Turn off or disconnect some of these electronics when they’re not in use and you’ll save energy.
However, if you have a digital video recorder that you’ve set up to record shows at specific times when you are away or asleep, then turning off that system will cancel the recording.
