At a store near you: More energy efficient televisions

Consumers now have more energy efficient choices when shopping for televisions. On Nov.1, TVs meeting the Environmental Protection Agency's new, more comprehensive energy efficiency specification began to be available in stores nationwide.

EPA encourages consumers to look for the Energy Star label when buying new TVs. Energy Star's new specifications for televisions are turning the channel on energy guzzling sets.

TVs that meet the new Energy Star specification are up to 30 percent more energy efficient than conventional models. If all TVs sold in the United States met the new Energy Star requirements, the savings in energy costs would be about $1 billion annually, and greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by the equivalent of about 1 million cars.

The new specification requires energy efficiency when TVs are on, as well as off or in "standby" mode. It also requires the use of external power supplies that have earned the Energy Star label where applicable. This new specification is important since TVs being sold now are larger, in use more hours a day and offer more vibrant pictures, which can impact the amount of electricity they use. In fact, some of the largest, high-resolution TVs can use as much as 500 kWh per year.

Energy Star qualified TVs can be found at most stores where electronics are sold. An up-to-date list of models that meet the new specification can be found at: http://www.energystar.gov/ia/products/prod_lists/tv_vcr_prod_list.pdf.

Consumers are encouraged to ask their salesman for newly qualified Energy Star TVs to ensure they are getting one that qualifies under this enhanced specification. More information about newly qualified Energy Star televisions is available at http://www.energystar.gov.

Energy Star was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 50 kinds of products, buildings and new homes. Products that have earned the Energy Star prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government.

In 2007 alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $16 billion on their energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 27 million vehicles.

Resource: jones.enesta@epa.gov

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Trudy W. Pickett is extension agent, family and consumer science, at the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Office, 1791 N.C. 11/55. Reach her at (252) 527-2191 or trudy_pickett@ncsu.edu.