SAVE ENERGY AND SAVE MONEY WITH YOUR TV
A wide-screen TV can use twice as much energy as a refrigerator! Refrigerators used to be the No. 1 energy-using appliance in the home, but not anymore. In many homes, TVs are the big power users now.
Don’t be surprised if you pay a $100 or more a year to operate your new TV.
Energy use varies widely between HDTVs, even between models of similar size. There are ways to ensure your new TV is as efficient as possible: See this chart to compare models
Choose the most efficient technology for your new TV
There are three HDTV technologies on the market today: plasma, LCD, and rear-projection micro display (commonly known as DLP, or digital light processing).
A study by CNET found that, on average, plasma TVs are the least efficient, consuming 0.33 watt of electricity per square inch of screen, while LCD TVs are slightly better at 0.28 watt per inch. Your best choice to save energy is DLP, which consumes only 0.13 watt per inch.
In all cases the bigger the screen the bigger the electric
bill will be.
Choose Energy Star-rated models.
On November 1, 2008, the EPA released
new Energy Star specifications. They now set maximum energy consumption limits
for TVs in both standby and active modes. Previous Energy Star rules applied
only to standby mode. TVs that meet these new requirements will be up to 30
percent more efficient than non-qualified models.
The above paragraph is made possible by your tax dollars.
Here are some ways to save without buying a new TV
Unplug the TV when it is not in use. Older TVs that have a standby mode continue to draw power even when turned "off." But, if it is a new Energy Star rated model don’t bother.
I avoid unplugging electronics that need to be re-programmed every time they are powered up. I have enough frustration without the anguish of re-programming your TV. It is not worth it.
My cable box re-programs itself, if I leave it alone, but it takes about 15 minutes. Way too long!
Turn off the "quick start" option. Just by waiting a few more seconds for the TV to warm up, you can reduce standby power use. I wish I had this option on our set.
Turn down the brightness settings. Many LCD TVs also have a backlight setting that is often set in stores to be brighter than necessary for most home environments.
We all understand that brighter the light bulb you use in a lamp the more electricity it uses. The same is true with your TV and computer screens. The brighter the setting, the more you pay on the electric bill.
Tune your TV picture so it looks good when the room lights
are dimmed. You save energy on the lights and TV.
Don't
Waste your Energy on TV Turn your TV off
when no one is watching it. If you need background noise use a radio or play
music on the boom box. The biggest money
saver for TV is to use it only for viewing well chosen uplifting or funny video
tapes and DVD’s. It cuts the electric bill and reduces depression. When you
stop watching commercial TV programs, your personal productivity and energy
level will go up. When the
grandchildren come to visit our TV is always broken. It is more fun to play a
game with grandpa or read a book with grandma. While you are at
it stop reading the front page of the newspaper. Just skip to the comics like I do. Click here for a free money saving report titled HOW SAVE MONEY ON YOUR NEXT HEATING BILL If you enjoyed this post, then click here to subscribe to the Energy Boomer Newsletter. Related Posts: SAVE MONEY BY READING YOUR ELECTRIC BILL YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SAVE BY USING POWER AT A DIFFERENT TIME DO DIMMER SWITCHES SAVE MONEY? .
