How much Energy Does Your TV Use?
February 15, 2021
From binge-watching a TV series to late night gaming marathons, today’s TVs are a cornerstone of home entertainment. Any activity that increases screen time means increased energy use in your home, making it more important than ever to understand how much electricity the TVs in your home use. Once you understand how much electricity a TV uses, you can make an informed decision on how much effort you want to put into energy conservation. Even though modern TVs’ energy costs are low compared to other home appliances, it never hurts to conserve energy when and where you can. With that in mind, here are a few key tips to help minimize your TV energy use:
- Turn off all TVs when nobody is watching. It’s the single most effective way to reduce energy use.
- Check the efficiency rating. When shopping for a new TV, check the federal ENERGY STAR website to see if the models you’re considering meet their energy conservation standards.
- Avoid plasma TVs, as these use more energy than other modern flat-screen models. Instead, look for TVs that use OLEDs, the latest in energy-efficient TV technology.
- Be mindful of your TV’s settings, especially brightness, which affect energy efficiency. You can set the TV brightness lower if you dim the lights in the room.
- Disable “always-on” features. Disabling “always-on” features like voice control and quick startup can ensure that your TV draws no power when it’s turned off. Since this will only spare you a tiny amount of energy, don’t sacrifice the convenience of these features if you use them.
Since today’s TVs are already relatively energy-efficient, there’s only a few dollars’ worth of difference to be saved, but as part of a larger initiative to bring your utility bills down, however, every little bit counts. Access Union Power’s TV Calculator to see how much electricity your TV, cable box, DVD/DVR, and game consoles cost based on the type of TV (LED, LCD, Plasma), size, when it’s used, the amount of time, and how much energy it consumes when it’s just plugged in.
For additional information on what is contributing towards your monthly power consumption, please be sure to answer the 11-question survey to complete your Home Profile. If you need assistance, please contact one of our Energy Specialists at 704-289-3145.