FAQs - Televisions and their energy consumption
Q. I have a 20-year-old television which I’ve kept partly as I hate modern televisions, but also as I read that plasma and LCD televisions use lots of energy. However, someone told me that in fact they’re far more energy efficient than the old television I have. Do you know which is right?
A. The answer is not straightforward as it depends on the size of the television.
Generally, small LCD televisions are very efficient (up to 18 inches) and probably use less than older Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs). Newer televisions of all types tend to have much lower stand-by – around one to two watts compared to anything from four to ten watts for older televisions.
Larger televisions tend to use more energy than CRTs. CRTs tend to stop around 36 inches whereas LCD and plasmas reach 50 inches plus. Recent work by the Market Transformation Programme suggests there is little to choose between technologies when you compare the amount of energy per square inch, although this is at a very early stage.
Generally, newer televisions are better for stand-by and smaller televisions are better than large ones.
Page last modified:
22 February 2008
Page published: 22 February 2008