Reduce your LCD or Plasma TVs Energy Use

You can easily optimize the picture settings of your TV and reduce your energy bill and save money.  Most TVs are set so they are optimized with high brightness and contrast levels to ‘look good’ or deliver wows in a TV store.  The brightness and colors are cranked way up or set to what is known as “Torch Mode”.  You can set your TV to optimal image settings and save money in the process.

Set your TVs mode to one called Standard, Cinema, or Movie. Avoid modes named Dynamic or Vivid. Turn the brightness and contrast down to an acceptable level.

Our Sony XBR LCD TV has a Power Saving setting you can set to OFF, Low, High, and Picture OFF.  We set this to High. It also has a PC Power Management setting to have the TV save energy when there is no signal.

CNET has a good description of how they test power usage.  After they calibrate the set to optimal setting, it almost always uses less power.  A top rated Pioneer Plasma TV used 40 less watts of power when calibrated.  This translates to $13 a year power savings. Use a Killawatt to measure before and after power use.

If you are buying a new HDTV, be sure to look for a green LCD TV. Energy Star 3.0 standards requires less than 1 watt of power usage when the TV is off and  has a formula for maximum energy use based on screen size. Look for this mark on any TV you purchase.

Related posts:

1. Energy Efficient TVs
2. Green TVs Better Pictures with less power
3. New Sony Eco Series LCD TV
4. Ways to Save Energy, Money on your Energy Bill
5. New Energy Efficient Dell Studio Hybrid Desktop

Posted on January 12th, 2010
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