Flat Screen TVs To Face Energy Efficiency Rules

That 52-inch, flat-screen television on the family room wall may have a terrific picture, but there's a big drawback: It's an energy hog.

State regulators are getting ready to curb the growing power gluttony of TV sets by drafting the nation's first rules requiring retailers to sell only the most energy-efficient models, starting in 2011.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[TazExprez]

All of the LCD's I have at home have the Energy Star label. My oldest model is from 2003. My largest one is 46," so maybe the larger ones are the energy hogs.

[ohiomark]

I'm paying for the electricity to run my LCD HDTV.

Stop telling me what kind of TV's and light bulbs I have to buy.

This Nanny State B.S. is going too far.

[DRaymond]

The chart compares 'average' Tube TV with 'average' LCDs and others. But the average Tube TV is maybe 19 inches while the average flat screen is more like 40. When comparing screens of similar size (19 inch computer monitors with 19 inch LCD monitors) the LCDs are far more economical.

What they should do is come up with Energy Star ratings and labels for TVs, with standards based on screen size. The Energy Star program has been very effective in getting people to buy more efficient appliances and is liked by everybody involved.

[mamacat]

Consumer Reports magazine has been discussing the relative energy use of various TVs for many years.

[Enid]

This energy saving plan should have gone along with the current change of tv transmission. More tv sets will be sold to upgrade existing boxes in the next two years than in the following five years. All business worries about is sales and most citizens just want a big tv and the hell with everything else.

Another big energy consumer are ceiling fans. Congress -tried to pass a ruling on energy efficiency but lobbies stopped that so Home Depot and Costco can continue to import Chines made motor windings that are energy hogs but keep retail price down. In effect hurting the US and the end user of the product.

[HutchBev]

Again, why is this starting at 2011? Plasma and LCD televisions have been on the market for years and the knowledge of how much juice a plasma uses has been well known and documented.

[shockmagog]

I guess it would have been far too much to ask for this regulation to begin during the Dark Ages of Bush.

[elizaconnors]

The article doesn't say anything about the relative efficiency of energy star flat screen TVs. Does anyone know anything about that?

[shockmagog]

Good question! I found this chart of the relative power consumption of HDTV LCD and Plasma brands (updated Oct. 2008). I suppose you'll have to check on your own which ones are Energy Star though.
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6475_7-6400401-3.html?tag=rb_content;rb_mtx

Plasma TVs use more energy than LCDs but many plasmas have Energy Star logos. It's all "relative," as they say.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/01/plasma_tvs_suck.php

[elizaconnors]

Thanks!

[NoahVail]

Let's see- it will become illegal to watch football on a 52" screen, but its OK to pile into your HUMVEE to go see a football game?

I don't think that energy is driving this- its more than likely related to which regulators own Sony stock and which ones own RCA stock. Apparently, none of them own any GM stock.