Power consumption is declining

With Energy Star 4.0 in effect, many new TVs are more energy efficient. That's especially true of LCD sets with LED backlights, but regular LCD sets and plasma TVs, energy hogs in the past, also use less juice. For example, a 54-inch plasma TV in our Ratings has an estimated energy cost of $38 a year, just $10 more than the most energy-wise 55-inch LCD set. Don't expect huge savings, but whatever you save is a bonus—and good for the environment.