TVs More Energy Efficient Than Ever

Need a good reason to buy a new HDTV? It's right here. According to a new study commissioned by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), manufacturers have made huge strides in creating more energy efficient televisions.

The CEA study, "Power Consumption Trends in Digital TVs Produced Since 2003," reviewed power consumption data on best-selling digital TV models from 2003 to 2010 – in both active and standby modes – on high-definition liquid crystal (LCD) and plasma display models with screen sizes ranging from 13- to 65-inches.

Some highlights:

• LCD active power use fell 63 percent from 2003 to 2010.
• LCD standby power use dropped 87 percent from 2004 to 2010.
• Plasma TV active power use dropped 41 percent from 2008 to 2010.
• Plasma TV standby use fell 85 percent from 2008 to 2010.

"Many consumers don't realize they can replace an old analog TV with a new flat-panel digital TV that uses less energy," said Douglas Johnson, vice president of technology policy, CEA. "Power consumption in TVs has fallen dramatically in the relatively short history of digital television thanks to the success of the Energy Star program combined with technological innovation, industry competition and consumer demand."

To download the report, go to: www.CE.org\green