Television screens are getting bigger... and so are electricity bills By Sean Coughlan BBC News Magazine Flat-screen TVs - a Christmas "must-have" in many households - are among the latest gadgets to be black-listed by environmentalists for their heavy power consumption. But are they really the 4x4s of home entertainment?
Television screens are getting bigger... and so are electricity bills By Sean Coughlan BBC News Magazine Flat-screen TVs - a Christmas "must-have" in many households - are among the latest gadgets to be black-listed by environmentalists for their heavy power consumption. But are they really the 4x4s of home entertainment?
They're big and bright and flying off the shelves in the seasonal spending spree. Flat-screen televisions are accounting for eight out of 10 TVs bought this Christmas - casting their their bulky old predecessors into the shade.
They're big and bright and flying off the shelves in the seasonal spending spree. Flat-screen televisions are accounting for eight out of 10 TVs bought this Christmas - casting their their bulky old predecessors into the shade.
But while the cash tills might be ringing, there have been warnings about the environmental impact of this big-screen switch-over.
But while the cash tills might be ringing, there have been warnings about the environmental impact of this big-screen switch-over.
According to the government-funded Energy Saving Trust, plasma televisions, which are 50% bigger than their cathode-ray tube equivalents, "consume about four times more energy".
According to the government-funded Energy Saving Trust, plasma televisions, which are 50% bigger than their cathode-ray tube equivalents, "consume about four times more energy".
Gas guzzlers
Gas guzzlers
In terms of carbon emissions, the EST says old-style TVs produce 100kg of climate-warming CO2 per year - while larger, plasma screens (there are no small plasma TVs) will pump out 400kg.
In terms of carbon emissions, the EST says old-style TVs produce 100kg of climate-warming CO2 per year - while larger, plasma screens (there are no small plasma TVs) will pump out 400kg.
Flat-screen televisions are a big seller this Christmas
Flat-screen televisions are a big seller this Christmas
Supporting these claims, the EST points to research from the government-funded Market Transformation Programme, which advises the government on sustainability policy.
Supporting these claims, the EST points to research from the government-funded Market Transformation Programme, which advises the government on sustainability policy.
This says that, on average, the power consumption of a cathode-ray screen is 3.4 watts per screen inch, while plasma uses 9.4 watts per screen inch - based on figures from 2005.
This says that, on average, the power consumption of a cathode-ray screen is 3.4 watts per screen inch, while plasma uses 9.4 watts per screen inch - based on figures from 2005.
So does that make these sleek new TVs the gas-guzzling 4x4s of home entertainment?
So does that make these sleek new TVs the gas-guzzling 4x4s of home entertainment?
Not exactly. Flat-screen TVs broadly come in to varieties - plasma (which go from about 42ins to an almost cinematic 100ins-plus, and LCD, which are smaller, but, crucially, getting bigger all the time.
Not exactly. Flat-screen TVs broadly come in two varieties - plasma (which go from about 42ins to an almost cinematic 100ins-plus, and LCD, which are smaller, but, crucially, getting bigger all the time.
Power hungry
Power hungry
Peter Raynes, professor of opto-electronic engineering at the University of Oxford, says modern LCD screens use a similar amount of power to bulky old cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions.
Peter Raynes, professor of opto-electronic engineering at the University of Oxford, says modern LCD screens use a similar amount of power to bulky old cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions.
Old-style televisions are on the way out
Old-style televisions are on the way out
Plasma televisions are currently less efficient and will use more power, he says.
Plasma televisions are currently less efficient and will use more power, he says.
But Professor Raynes cautions about the difficulty in objectively comparing like with like - because there are unlikely to be any CRT televisions on the High Street which are the same size as plasma.
But Professor Raynes cautions about the difficulty in objectively comparing like with like - because there are unlikely to be any CRT televisions on the High Street which are the same size as plasma.
Manufacturer Philips, which makes CRT, LCD and plasma televisions, even rejects the broad assumption that plasma screens are inherently more power hungry - a spokesperson saying there was no clear, standardised, consensus on energy use.
Manufacturer Philips, which makes CRT, LCD and plasma televisions, even rejects the broad assumption that plasma screens are inherently more power hungry - a spokesperson saying there was no clear, standardised, consensus on energy use.
And with rapid advances in technology, power consumption for all screens is set to become more efficient - rendering any current forecasts redundant.
And with rapid advances in technology, power consumption for all screens is set to become more efficient - rendering any current forecasts redundant.
Consumer power
Consumer power
But is this really about technology or about consumers hankering after bigger and bigger TVs?
But is this really about technology or about consumers hankering after bigger and bigger TVs?
The stand-by button can undermine any attempt at energy efficiency
The stand-by button can undermine any attempt at energy efficiency
The specifications from Philips' range shows how much it's the upscaling in size that matters - and also how difficult it is to generalise about power consumption.
The specifications from Philips' range shows how much it's the upscaling in size that matters - and also how difficult it is to generalise about power consumption.
Philips has won a European green television of the year award with its 42ins LCD television - which has a power consumption of 210 watts. In comparison, a 42ins plasma screen uses 230 watts. Not much different? Well, there's another plasma screen, the same size, same manufacturer, which uses 365 watts.
Philips has won a European green television of the year award with its 42ins LCD television - which has a power consumption of 210 watts. In comparison, a 42ins plasma screen uses 230 watts. Not much different? Well, there's another plasma screen, the same size, same manufacturer, which uses 365 watts.
Then look at Philips' old-style televisions, where a medium-size 28ins widescreen only uses 87 watts and a portable 39 watts. And an LCD portable uses 42 watts.
Then look at Philips' old-style televisions, where a medium-size 28ins widescreen only uses 87 watts and a portable 39 watts. And an LCD portable uses 42 watts.
And the 50ins plasma screen? A bumper-size 400 watts.
And the 50ins plasma screen? A bumper-size 400 watts.
So you can be eco-conscious, buy the "green telly of the year", and still end up using twice as much energy as the old box you've thrown out. Confusing?
So you can be eco-conscious, buy the "green telly of the year", and still end up using twice as much energy as the old box you've thrown out. Confusing?
John Twidell, adviser on energy to the Institute of Physics, says consumers need to be given much more straightforward information about power consumption.
John Twidell, adviser on energy to the Institute of Physics, says consumers need to be given much more straightforward information about power consumption.
'Eco-mode'
'Eco-mode'
Another key issue for energy consumption, says Dr Twidell, is turning off machines at the mains - and avoiding leaving televisions on stand-by. There's no point worrying about economising, if a television on stand-by is chewing up the power all day and night, every day.
Another key issue for energy consumption, says Dr Twidell, is turning off machines at the mains - and avoiding leaving televisions on stand-by. There's no point worrying about economising, if a television on stand-by is chewing up the power all day and night, every day.
There are other issues surrounding television energy consumption - such as the brightness of screens.
There are other issues surrounding television energy consumption - such as the brightness of screens.
The Market Transformation Programme warns that televisions are often set for display in shops, rather than the much lower levels of light needed for home use.
The Market Transformation Programme warns that televisions are often set for display in shops, rather than the much lower levels of light needed for home use.
It suggests that creating an "eco-mode" for screen brightness could cut power consumption by 15%.
It suggests that creating an "eco-mode" for screen brightness could cut power consumption by 15%.
And disposing of the unwanted CRT televisions is going to be a challenge in itself - with an anticipated 70 million old-style sets to be dumped by the end of the decade.
And disposing of the unwanted CRT televisions is going to be a challenge in itself - with an anticipated 70 million old-style sets to be dumped by the end of the decade.
Once you've sorted out the power, there's still an even bigger question. Where do you put a 50ins flat-screen television in your living room?
Once you've sorted out the power, there's still an even bigger question. Where do you put a 50ins flat-screen television in your living room?
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