Three aging appliances in my kitchen have been declared beyond repair, which has led me to undertake a lot of research on appliances. A good starting point I have found is Which?, the British non-profit magazine and website that thoroughly tests and reviews consumer products. I will report on my research on dishwashers, etc., when I have completed it. In the meantime, I stumbled upon this page in on the Which? website that has interesting, straightforward, and surprising information on television electricity consumption.

I had always assumed that LCD televisions use far less power than standard CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) televisions, since this is the case with computer monitors, as I reported here in my post on saving electricity in the office.

Which?, however reports that after testing dozens of TVs, it found that a 32-inch CRT TVs use 50-100 watts, similar sized LCDs use 100-200 watts, and 42-inch Plasma TVs (they aren’t made in the 32-inch size) consume 200-300 watts. That’s up to 6 times more than a CRT only 10 inches smaller.

Though I believe the Which? does very thorough and unbiased research, I do think that the full story is slightly more complicated. A revealing chart produced by the Australian government when researching electricity consumption by TVs shows that in the smaller sizes (below 40 cm) , LCD TVs are more efficient on average. This would explain why they are the greener choice for a PC monitor. But CRT TVs don’t experience as great a leap in consumption as they get larger. LCD and Plasma TVs use a lot more electricity with each step up in size. Beyond 60 cm, most CRTs are somewhat more economical, though there is enough variation between models that it is possible to find a large LCD that outperforms a same-size CRT at the plug.

As for Plasma TVs, they are simply energy hogs. The larger ones can draw 500 watts or more. Some guides to televisions will divide the consumption by the size of the TV, which makes plasma televisions look a little better. But I think this is beside the point. One of the most important decisions a television buyer must make is the size, and it is important to know that making do with a smaller television is much better for the environment. If you already own a plasma TV, you can reduce its power usage by turning down the brightness. (Dim the room lights at the same time and you’ll save again.)

And, as I explained in this post, when you’re finished watching, take the consumption all the way down to zero. Don’t put it into standby with the remote; turn it off at the television itself.