Slimming Down Flat-Screen TV Power Use

LCD and plasma TVs are actually more efficient per square inch than those old-fashioned CRT screens. But that doesn't mean they consume less electricity. In fact, simply because they are, on average, so much more gigantic than old CRTs, they consume far more electricity.

Your average 42 inch plasma TV will probably be eating up more power than your refrigerator over the course of a year's use. And that's just the use, nevermind all of the mining, packaging, processing and shipping that go into them before they arrive.

But while manufacturers once competed only on price, size and contrast ratio, a fourth important factor is finally emerging among television purchase points: efficiency. GreenTechMedia was in Japan this week covering the Ceatec conference, where efficiency is being touted left and right.

Sony had a 42-inch LCD TV from 2005 sitting next to a 42-inch LCD TV from 2008. The only difference: the 2005 one consumed 131 watts while the 2008 consumed 57 watts. And that's just the beginning. Manufacturers across the board are planning on slashing power consumption by their televisions.

Sanyo hopes to reduce power consumption in their televisions by two thirds by 2011, and Sharp has a 26 inch LCD TV that consumes only 40 watts of power.

All of this is great news for the environment, but also great news for me. I haven't yet bought an LCD TV. Though I've wanted one for some time, the power requirements have been a complete deal-breaker for me. But now that they're getting into the range of your average light bulb (and reducing the vampire load) I'm getting pretty excited about my next upgrade.

Via GreenTechMedia

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written by jake3988, September 30, 2008

57 watts? That's amazing. That's less than ONE incandescent lightbulb to power an entire tv? Impressive. Considering the amount of tv people watch and play video games on these days, a 100 watts a tv makes a pretty enourmous difference.

About as awesome my 2004 vcr that at max consumes a whopping 7 watts :)

HD Projectors
written by Karl, September 30, 2008

My school has recently recieved HD projectors that hook up to not only TVs but computers and other devices as well. They seem a lot more practical and compact than Plasma or Projection TVs and the quality doesn't seem to diminish even when images are projected at a great distance. Granted, there are some flaws in projectors (you get better quality in darkness, you have to have a screen or empty wall, etc.) but they do seem like a potentially better option in terms of power usage and perhaps picture quality and versitility.

What about OLEDs?
written by Ron Mertens, October 01, 2008

OLEDs are the real future of efficient TVs. It might take a while (a few years still) - but eventually we'll get cheap, thin, brilliant and efficient OLED TVs -

http://www.oled-info.com/oledTV

Ron

About time
written by Steve N. Lee, October 01, 2008

It's about time manufacturers started getting wise to the need to produce more efficient electrical equipment.

I have an LCD tv. It's only one year old. And it's literally the WORST electronic purchase I ever made. Why? You literally cannot turn it off without phyisically unpluging it. It eats electricity all the time as it's either 'on' or on standby, there is no 'off' setting. I couldn't believe it when I'd bought it and discovered this. Most days we unplug it when not in use. A pain, but you have to try, don't you.

And get this - my Sky satellite system is exactly the same. 'On' or standby - no 'off'. What's wrong with these people!?

So, yes, these consumption stats are very impressive and most welcome. I hope this creates real market competition and we see all manufacturers battling to achieve the best power consumption stats to beat the rivals. Not only will it help save the environment but it will help us all to save money. Great stuff.

Steve N. Lee
author of eco-blog http://www.lionsledbysheep.com
and suspense thriller 'What if...?'

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written by Annie Bankss, October 01, 2008

I think its great news if manufacturers r looking into means which could reduce the usage of power.It would take the major load off.

Annie Bankss

Save Our Planet

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written by Lindsay Joseph, October 03, 2008

This is a step in the right direction but lets not forget about the mountains of TVs that grow in other countries as we all rush out to buy our new energy efficient flat screen tv. The one TV in my house will not be replaced until it dies.

Manufacturers need to be responsible for the entire product lifecyle and the impact of the chemicals they choose to put in their products. Some of the coolness in these products has very nasty origins in toxic chemicals that are hazardous to the people who build them and the people who recycle them.

If you get a chance, take a look at the documentary called Manufactured Landscapes - it will make you rethink your wallet. Here is an intro on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZiKBKnesnU

gotta be bull
written by Kim, October 06, 2008

about that 42inch Sony @ only 57Watt, all their models from 2008 is around 200W. W4500 and so forth.

My old boxy TV
written by Harry Kuperus, October 08, 2008

We recently bought a 50-inch flatscreen TV, just 5 inches thick. It looks great at our small flat, but I miss the warm colors and the zapping speed of our old boxy television.

Standards
written by KevinA, October 10, 2008

Like with CAFE standards, the government needs to take a stronger role. The Energy Star program needs to be updated and expanded. Anything electric should have a standard with progressive improvements mandated over a perion of years. Carbon taxes for inefficiency and incentives for efficiency. It would be nice to have no bad options in 15 years.

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written by Mark H., October 10, 2008

Energy Star standards for televisions take effect next month. I have been waiting for that before getting a new flat screen.

Unplugging tv, etc
written by bWs, October 12, 2008

Steve, what we do is plug our tv, receiver, home theater, etc. into a power strip/surge protector. When we are finished watching we simply switch there 'Off'.
Correction: we leave the cable/satellite box powered in standby mode since it takes about 3-5 minutes to warm up.

Smaller TVs?
written by Sally G, October 13, 2008

Here's a dilemma for you: I have a small black-and-white 1980 TV in my bedroom. I move it to the foot of my bed to watch. (Most of my TV watching is done on the cable TV in our common living room.) Come February 2009, what do I do? Buy a box, making it awkward to move, and not sure to work without a new antenna (I'm a tenant, so that's out)? Buy a new TV? My room is 10 x 13; I already have a full-size comuter monitor and a roomfull of furniture. The smallest LCD TV I have found is 15 inches, too wide for the hamper my current TV sits on when not in use. Why don't they cut energy use by making smaller TVs for people like me? ( I guess I could get a cellphone with displaya, but that's too far toward the other extreme.

Retired Engineer
written by Bud Rinker, October 23, 2008

Why does EcoGeek
have to write their
weekly updates in such a
long narrow strip that requires
so much scanning to be able
to follow and read it? If
they want to be clever
why not write it in
expanding interest
sentences, like
I do here?
Bud

Rob S
written by Rob, January 12, 2009

Everyone has missed something here. When they rate these TV's they look at Maximum power output. LCDs traditionally draw a continuous wattage as their backlight is always on(around 190-200W for a 42")where as a Plasma type TV (max draw around 400W for a good one) will only draw what it needs to light its pixels. Under normal viewing over time they even out.

powerstrip that helps
written by Kelly, January 14, 2009

saw a power strip on Amazon.com that lets you plug your electronics in so that you are easily able to power them all off at once to save against standby loss. Look up "smart strip energy saving power strip" and it will come up.

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