CEO Note - Downside of Awesome Televisions

I was talking with a friend the other day and we got on the subject of Thanksgiving. Now, keep in mind this was a discussion between two men. Naturally, we progressed quickly through the turkey to the football games to the new television he had bought. There, we got stuck. New TV? What kind? How big? High Definition? 3D? Got a surround sound for it? Oh, I’ll be over to watch the game for sure!

Then, being in the profession I am in, I had to go and ruin it by telling him not to be surprised if his electric bill goes up some. I could tell this annoyed him. A moment ago we were having a touchdown celebration and now he looked at me like the play was being reviewed because I may have stepped out of bounds before crossing the goal line. Then he wanted to know what I meant.

More Energy Usage for Televisions

While today’s televisions offer larger, thinner screens and, thanks to digital cable or satellite connections, provide a virtually unlimited number of channels (on which you can catch almost any game). Some models require a tremendous amount of energy to operate—almost as muchas a refrigerator. To pile on the usage, the average American household owns 2.93 TVs, according to a 2010 Nielsen report. If your house is like mine that means at least 2 of them are on all the time as I have an average of exactly two teenage children!

All of this energy use adds up. The Natural Resources Defenses Council found that U.S. televisions use more than 46 billion kWh per year, or about 4 percent of residential electricity use. These sets generally use more power because of better picture clarity and screen size as well. The larger the screen, the more electricity is required by the set. People are seeing this in their bills. In response to consumer concerns, TV manufacturers are working to design sets that use less energy withoutsacrificing screen size or resolution.

Usage Varies for Types of Televisions

Whether you are in the market for a new TV for the holidays, or you want to make sure you’re using your current TV efficiently, here’s some info that hopefully, will help you tune in to big screen energy savings. There are generally four types of TVs currently available: plasma, liquid-crystal display (LCD), rear-projection, and cathode ray tube (CRT).

CRT

CRT televisions are the most difficult to find because they employ old technology and screen sizes rarely top forty inches. Forty inches? What a disappointment! I mean that six foot, 240 pound running back only looks a little over three feet tall coming through the guard / tackle hole into your living room!

Plasma

Plasma screens often are cited as the largest energy user mainly because their large 42 to 65 inch screens typically draw between 240 to 400 watts. Most consume electricity even when turned off as newer televisions remain in a “stand-by” mode. When members question their usage a common thing I hear over and over is, “I hardly ever turn my TV on.” Look again; see that red light? It’s using some power 24/7!

LCD

LCD TVs don’t need much power to operate; they use about 111 watts on average. Most LCD screens range in size from 21 to 49 inches. These TVs fall into two categories: those with cold-cathode fluorescent lamps to illuminatethe screen; and backlit models employing a light-emitting diode (LED). LED units offer several benefits, notably better picture quality and thinner, lighter screens. They also use slightly less energy, at about 101 watts.

Rear Projection

Rear projection televisions tend to be the most energy efficient and boast the largest screen sizes. However, due to their overallweight, rear projection sets are not as readily available as plasma and LCD models.

Shopping for an energy-efficient televisioncan be difficult. Television manufacturers rarely advertise energy consumption, and it almost never appears on in-store labels, though new ENERGY STAR® requirements may change that in 2012.

Do Your Research

Whether you are looking to buy a new television or want to make sure your model is operating efficiently, consumers need to conduct their own energy use research through unbiased online sources. One online journal for the technology industry I know of is CNET.com. Look for specific model numbers, which you can take to the store. In closing, let me just say to my friend….sorry buddy! It’s still a great TV, and I will be there to watch the game! I’ll even bring a dessert to make up for all the harsh reality I laid on you.