The TV As An Energy Hog

Well, that's what the headlines that caught my eye basically were saying. TV gluttony is confusing the environmental issues around energy consumption.

When I pondered why my LCD monitor would be more energy efficient than my old CRT monitor it didn't make sense the opposite would be true for TVs. With some digging around I learned LCDs are up to 66 percent more energy efficient than CRTs in the computer monitor world, so I expect that's true in the TV world -- when you compare like-sized TVs. And, to make the argument for LCDs even stronger, they produce less heat, meaning you don't need as much AC cooling.

A 2006 report I read about shared that in Japan studies have calculated that if only 50 percent of Japan's CRT monitors were swapped out to LCD monitors, four power plants would be closed, eliminating 181,000 tons of CO2 emissions. So how does this relate to TVs and the statement LCD TVs are energy hogs?

If you don't look carefully it seems LCD and plasma TVs consume lots more energy than CRT TVs. Looking carefully means comparing like-sized TVs, settings, and watching habits. The first gotcha in the comparisons is that CRT TVs tend to be smaller than newer TVs. Comparing a portable CRT TV to a portable LCD TV shows 39 watts and 42 watts, respectively, of energy consumption. And just to throw more statistics at you, a 28" widescreen CRT TV consumes 87 watts while a 50" plasma TV consumes 400 watts.

On average, CRT power consumption is 3.4 watts/screen inch, while plasma is 9.4 watts/screen inch, based on 2005 figures. Peter Raynes, professor of opto-electronic engineering at the University of Oxford, says modern LCD screens use a similar amount of power to CRT televisions. According to the government-funded Energy Saving Trust, plasma televisions which are 50percent bigger than their CRT equivalents "consume about four times more energy".

There we have it again, an expert saying CRT and LCD screens consume about the same amount of energy. It seems to me it's the size that's making a big difference in energy consumption, not technology, at least when you compare LCDs and CRTs. Plasma is a totally different issue. So size is one variable in this discussion.

Robin Raskin reported on this TV energy consumption question in 2007. She found that generally, large-screen TVs are more energy consuming than the smaller-screened CRT-based TVs they replace. And most people are adding TVs to their homes. That is, they tend not to replace old TVs with new ones but to add a second or third TV. And since TVs consume power even when they're not on, just adding a TV set or two can add dramatically to your power consumption.

Aha, another piece for the energy-hog puzzle! We aren't just comparing one CRT TV to one LCD or plasma TV, we are comparing one CRT TV to a host of various TVs. And just to keep this interesting knowing that Americans watch about five hours of TV/day shows another source of energy consumption; another puzzle piece.

According to a 2008 article at Efficient Products.org consumers can encounter two TVs with different technologies and formats, but with the same size and performance, that consume radically different amounts of energy over the course of a year. The article goes on to say that in the U.S. about 1 percent of the nation's electric production is consumed by TVs. TVs consume 90 percent of their total energy while operating with 10 percent of its consumption in standby mode. The author predicts that with the rapid growth of TV sales, having multiple TVs/household, and increased TV viewing, TV energy consumption will increase by fifty percent before 2010 if TV efficiency isn't improved.

So what can you do today to improve your TV energy efficiency? Energy Star shares some pointers.

• In smaller screen sizes -- 40 inches and less -- LCD TVs, especially HDTV models, are generally more energy efficient than CRT TVs.


• In larger screen sizes -- 50 inches and above -- a projection TV is probably your most energy efficient purchase. Projection TVs can consume half the electricity of comparably sized flat-panel TVs.


• For intermediate sized screens in the 40-50" range, it is difficult to pick a real energy efficient TV. Most TVs sold in this category are LCD or plasma flat-panel TVs, and these two technologies are still evolving so rapidly that characterizing their efficiency by technology is difficult. [NOTE: Check back with EfficientProducts.org frequently because they continue to report on this size range.]


• Start greening your TV today with the simple push of a button. 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.
  

  
  [Author's Note: Television efficiency research conducted by Ecos Consulting reveals that significant energy savings and improved picture quality could be had in TVs today with the use of energy efficient screen settings. Any TV purchased today contains a variety of options for adjusting the characteristics of the picture within its settings menu. Of all the user-adjustable settings found on the menu, two have the most significant impact on energy consumption and picture quality: contrast and brightness.]

• LED (light emitting diode) backlit LCD televisions will present a more energy efficient option for larger flat panel screen sizes. Using LED modulation, LCDs will soon be able to dim whole regions of the screen that do not require maximum light output, thus saving energy. LED technology with TVs, as with lighting, isn't ready for mainstream consumption, but the day is fast approaching when it will.


• Even further down the road is the OLED (organic light emitting diode) TV. It may also present an option for high quality picture with minimal energy costs. Keep your eyes peeled this technology in the next couple of years.

This TV-energy issue dances around a problem without calling it out directly. Disposal. Disposing of the outdated, replaced CRT televisions is going to be a challenge in itself; it's anticipated 70 million CRT TVs will be disposed of by 2010. We'll need some powerful recycling efforts to handle those TVs.

My final analysis is that it seems that newer TVs aren't exactly the energy problem some legislators and journalists talk about. The energy problem is complex, as are so many environmental issues. Some TVs are energy hogs, but more than that it is our lifestyle that impacts energy consumption when it comes to TVs. Turning the TV off when it's not being watched -- I mean cutting power to it completely -- will save some energy. Reducing the number of hours TV is watched will also save energy. And when it's time to buy a new TV consider avoiding the 40-50" models for now, and actually replacing the old TV, instead of just adding to your collection, to save more energy.

Maybe we have some Henny Pennys out there and new TVs aren't the energy hogs some fear. It doesn't hurt to become more energy consious and reduce as you can, but you don't need to hoard CRT TVs with the notion you're saving money on energy costs. And besides, watching TV and movies on LCD screens is much easier on the eyes. That's worth something right there.

When updating your energy-hog TVs for new models, try to keep the size of the TV screen small, don't get sucked into the "bigger is better" approach to TV-buying. Energy conservation is an important element in your purchases. Guests really aren't staying at your hotel to watch TV, so don't make the TV such a huge part of the room decor, or energy budget. Make the ECOnomically Sound decision to keep your new TVs small.