The California Energy Commission has passed new rules for TV sets.  In 2013, it would save 6515 gigawatts of power a year, reduce greehouse gas emissions by 3.1 million metric tons annually, and save you $18 to $30 a year. This would affect the entire nation as electronics companies will not want to make special sets just for California.

This would affect sets 58inches or smaller and would mandate that televisions sold in California would consume 33% less energy by 2011 and 49% less energy by 2013. For example, a 42 inch screen would consume 183 watts by 2011 and 115 watts by 2013, and a 36 inch screen would consume 148 watts by 2011 and 95 watts by 2013.

More than 1,000 models already meet the 2011 standard so buy a set on this list

The new eco friendly Sony KDL-40VE5 eco 40″ LCD HDTV is now available. All the desirable specs: Full HD 1080P, 120Hz refresh. Price around $1100.

Plus new ones we like to see:

“High-efficiency HCFL backlight that provides optimum brightness and reduces power consumption up to 50 percent versus Energy Star 3.0 requirements. In fact, this set consumes only 90 watts” – A similar model lacking these new features, the Sony 40″ KDL-40V5100, uses 155 watts.

“This HDTV has a Presence Sensor which detects if you’ve stepped away from your TV and automatically turns the picture off. If after 30 minutes, the sensor still doesn’t detect movement in the room, the set turns off completely.”

“The VE5 is equipped with a new Energy Saving Switch which reduces power consumption of the TV to zero when you’re not watching television.”

“Dim the lights to watch a movie and the integrated Light Sensor automatically adjusts to your room’s ambient light and lowers the brightness of the TV’s backlight to conserve energy”

Twice has a nice article about a new wave of flat panel TVs with lower energy consumption.  The EPA’s Energy Star 3.0 regulations have push the industry to become more efficient without compromising quality. Most Flat Panel TVs consume more power that older CRT TVs.

“One of the first things the LCD TV Association’s Green TV program did was to show manufacturers that if you used an inexpensive ambient light sensor in a TV, you could save at least 30 percent on energy when you turn the lights out in the room,”

Energy Star 3.0 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.

Panasonc has NeoPDP technology in all 2009 plasma TVs to save energy.

Sony has a new Eco TV, the Bravia VE5 series coming out summer 2009.

Samsung has LCD TVs with lower power LED backlighting in 30-40% of its 2009 models.

Look for the power consumption of your new TV before you buy it.

As a general rule, Plasma flat panel TVs use far more power than LCD ones.