Getting ready to buy that big screen television? The big screen shows you every play clearly, but you may see something else: a rise in your electric bill.
Consumer Reports magazine estimates that 36-inch and larger televisions can use as much power in a year as newer energy-efficient refrigerators, based on the average U.S. household viewing time of eight hours a day. The bigger the screen, the more energy it uses. Plasma screens generally use more electricity than the same size LCD screens. A 50-inch, high-definition plasma set may use twice the energy of a refrigerator in a year.
While many electronic devices are becoming more energy efficient, added power, increased capabilities and other enhancements are increasing power consumption. High-definition TVs have larger screens, which require more energy; video game consoles and personal computers have more powerful processors; and cordless phones in the home are also on the increase. Electronic devices now account for about 11 percent of overall residential electricity use.
“GreyStone members need to learn just how much energy new electronic items will use when making purchases, and if possible, look for the Energy Star® designation,” says Phil Landress, Department Manager, Residential Marketing.
“Another factor to consider is how much energy televisions, computers and other items will actually consume while not in use. Some electronics use less power in standby or sleep modes than others.”
More stringent Energy Star specifications for TVs will go into effect in November. Televisions meeting the new guidelines will be up to 30 percent more efficient. Also, Energy Star-qualified analog-to-digital converter boxes will be available for sale in late 2008.
Products earning the Energy Star are now the most energy-efficient items on the market, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. An estimated $160 billion will be spent on consumer electronics in the United States this year, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.
About 30 percent of all home entertainment equipment sales occur in the October-December period. To learn about energy-efficient products or to calculate the amount of energy used by a certain product in your household, visit www.mygreenelectronics.org.
