Green TVs (no need to adjust the color!)

In the consumer electronics world, there's no question that TVs are the biggest energy users. But there are steps we can take—individually and as a whole—to reduce the impact on the environment.

Perhaps the easiest thing you can do is buy a more energy-efficient TV next time you're in the market for a new model. LCD TVs with LED backlights tend to be the most efficient models, but plasma sets—once the energy hogs of the CE world—are starting to narrow the gap, according to Consumer Reports' latest TV tests. Our testers found a negligible difference overall in energy used by comparably sized LCD and plasma sets. Many consumed about $40 to $50 a year in electricity in normal use (powered on for 8 hours a day). Energy usage does vary by model within each type, though, as our latest Ratings show.

The government is doing its part to give us more energy-conscious choices. Back in 2007, Congress directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to develop disclosures for energy use on TVs and other electronics, similar to the yellow EnergyGuide labels used on appliances. The voluntary Energy Star program sets different criteria for various products to meet before they can be labeled as compliant. The current Energy Star 3.0 guidelines state that televisions must use at least 30 percent less power than the average set in both powered-on and standby modes.

The guidelines become more stringent with each revision, and power use by products that meet Energy Star 4.0 will be 40 percent less than the average TV's power needs. Full specifications for the Energy Star TV standard, a list of compliant HDTVs, and an interactive tool for finding Energy Star HDTVs are at the Energy Star Web site.

Many new TVs have energy-saving features. Some that dim the picture can cut energy use, but might also compromise picture quality somewhat. Still, it's worth seeing if the results please you. One TV series from Sony includes a built-in presence sensor that turns off the TV's backlight if no motion is detected in a room. That feature would be handy in households where you or your kids routinely leave on the set while you're off doing something else for hours at a stretch. And you can always completely turn off a TV or unplug it if you're going on vacation or won't be using it for a while.

If you have any energy-saving tips or other recommendations for safely disposing of an unwanted older model, post a comment and share your ideas. And happy Earth Day to everyone.

—James K. Willcox