Five TV Settings Tweaks to Slash Your Electricity Costs

Today's televisions are marvels of energy efficiency, especially when compared to models from a decade past. Modern screens have dramatically cut power usage.

Older televisions can cost around $54 annually in electricity, while today's LED-backlit models might run closer to $32.

The size of your TV screen significantly influences power consumption—larger displays demand more energy. However, you can make simple setting adjustments to minimize this expense. Even modest savings add up over time, with less money leaving your wallet.

Understanding Energy Labels

When purchasing a TV, the EnergyGuide label and the ENERGY STAR certification serve as fundamental performance indicators. These labels, found on retail displays, enable effective comparisons of energy efficiency among various models.

The energy efficiency ratings span from A to G, with A being the pinnacle of efficiency. Although rarely seen, A-rated TVs exist. Most smart TVs with a D or E rating are considerably efficient. ENERGY STAR-certified TVs are required to be at least 25% more efficient than their non-certified counterparts, which makes up for the possibly higher initial purchase cost.

If you're not buying a new TV, you should tweak your existing settings for better energy performance.

1. Dial Down the Brightness

Brightness settings affect not only viewing quality but also energy consumption. Excess brightness can harm picture quality, raising your electricity bill without adding value. Many modern TVs include automatic brightness controls to adjust to the surrounding light. To save energy, activate your TV’s Eco or Movie mode.

2. Utilize Sleep Timers

Though leaving the TV on overnight can be comforting, it's not cost-efficient. Configure the sleep timer so the TV turns off after a set period of no activity. This works similarly to enabling Standby mode, where the device shuts down after inactivity.

3. Disable Screen During Audio Streaming

When playing music through your TV, screen visuals are unnecessary. Some televisions offer options to turn the display off while keeping audio playing. This can extend to using your TV for ambient noise; minimizing screen usage will reduce electricity consumption.

4. Completely Shut Down

TVs consume energy even in standby mode. Utilize a power strip to easily and completely cut power when the TV is not in use, preventing ghost power consumption.

5. Picture Quality vs. Energy Efficiency

Opting for an OLED TV can be a wise decision for reduced energy use since each pixel lights individually, offering deeper blacks and greater contrast with lower power need compared to LCDs, which have a constant backlight.

Before purchasing a higher resolution TV like 4K, consider its energy demands due to increased pixel count, especially if you frequently watch content broadcast at lower resolutions.

FAQs

Are newer televisions more energy-efficient? Certainly, newer models with advancements such as LED and OLED technologies are much more economical in power usage.

OLED: The efficiency champion. OLED TVs stand out due to their superior brightness, thinness, and ability to shut off unused pixels.

How much savings can energy-efficient TVs offer? ENERGY STAR models can reduce power use by at least 25% compared to standard versions, translating to savings over the life of the device.

Screen size matters, larger displays generally lead to higher consumption, though this effect is diminishing with newer tech.

Should older TVs be replaced? If your TV still performs well but isn't very efficient, try applying these tips before opting to buy a more efficient model.