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.

Always set your TV for Home use, not for Store use. 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. Newer Sharp LCD TVs when first turned on, ask whether they will be used in retail stores.

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 or more a year power savings. Use a Killawatt to measure before and after power use. People have save $30 to $60 a year with picture adjustments.

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.

Make sure the mounting apparatus on your LCD or plasma TV is secure. Make sure other furniture such as book cases are moved away from the flat screen TV so children cannot climb and reach the TV.

Use a smart power strip so the TV cannot draw phantom power or vampire power while it is off.

WSJ had an article on Eco-Savvy TVs  with many vendors producing new products that save energy, some exceeding Energy Star standards.  It is great that the industry is moving in the right direction. TVs use a lot of energy, the #3 energy user in home.  My set uses 350W when running full bore.

As always there is a catch with many products. “Vizio’s 32-inch Eco HDTV is priced at roughly $500, while a standard Vizio 32-inch TV can cost between $400 and $450.”  It remains to be seen how fast you can save $100 in power costs over the life of the TV.  California CEC estimates that new energy efficient TVs could save $18 to $30 in power a year.

We covered how to save energy with your flat screen TV by adjusting its picture settings and by using a power strip to turn it off.

Other tips: Try to buy a TV that is Energy Star compliant and that has power savings modes and use it.

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