Energy costs drain the pockets of millions every year. But electricity is one of the few things consumers will always crave regardless of the price. One thing you can do to lessen the hit to your wallet and the impact to the environment is to choose energy efficient electronics, more specifically choosing an energy efficient television.
Of all the items in your household, one of the biggest electricity hogs is likely to be your television. It’s big, produces a certain amount of heat and, depending on how much you watch it, is on for several hours a day.
The tricky part about finding a TV lean on electricity is understanding what causes televisions to consume so much energy. Just a warning: Be prepared to spend more upfront for better technology and a smarter brand to save on energy costs later.
The Three Variables to Energy Efficiency
Variable #1: The Technology
Your television’s technology determines how efficient it is. The most efficient of the major types sold today, in ascending order of efficiency, are cathode ray televisions, plasma TVs, RPTVs, LED LCD TVs and OLED TVs.
Cathode ray and plasma TVs suck energy due to the roundabout way they have to excite electrons using gas to create a picture. A similar problem exists for rear projection televisions.
LED LCD TVs are likely the most cost-efficient televisions that rate highly when it comes to energy efficiency. They still fall behind organic LED TVs due to their need for a bright backlight.
Though OLED TVs tend to be the most efficient of the bunch, they also tend to cost an arm and a leg. You’re welcome to keep your eye out for a good deal or invest now to save money later with OLED technology, but you really shouldn’t consider them until the price begins to drop.
Variable #2: The Size
Size does matter, especially when it comes to television sets. A CRT television, while inefficient, may consume less energy than a 60-inch LED LCD television set.
The reason is CRT’s technological limitations. You can’t make a cost-efficient CRT monitor past a certain size, which in turn limits the amount of electricity most CRTs will consume.
When deciding on your next television, consider how large you really need it to be. While you can reduce the overall output by choosing an energy efficient technology, size will still play a factor in how much electricity your set consumes.
Variable #3: The Quality
Unfortunately, quality is a difficult thing to ascertain when choosing a new television. There are a few markers you can use, though not all are exactly fair.
The brand can be a trait for measuring quality. Sharp, Samsung, Philips, LG and, to a lesser extent, Magnavox, are the makers of the most energy efficient consumer televisions.
These manufacturers tend to be the ones with the happiest customers, oddly enough.
Post Author: andyc.
