Facts and Figures
TV - How much does it eat into your pocket?
You may be surprised at just how much energy and money a television consumes in comparison to other household appliances. The graph below shows the cost of running various appliances over the course of a year:
Figures for TVs calculated from the Frauenhofer Report. Figures for other appliances taken from Carbon Footprint Website.
There are over 7 million terrestrial digital TV receivers in the UK and if these were upgraded to IDTVs, this would save £45million in energy bills.
Source: ENERGY SAVING TRUST
Why is it important to make TVs energy efficient?
Domestic energy consumption accounts for around a third of total energy use in the UK – so it is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
Televisions used 54,000 GWh of energy in the EU in 2005. If the energy efficiency of televisions is not improved, it is estimated that this will increase to 91,000 GWh by 2010, and 116,000 GWh by 2020 – a 115% increase in just 15 years!
By 2010 there will be an average of two TVs in every household in the EU. Large screen TVs (36”-65”), which accounted for 4% of the total stock in 2005, are expected to account for 23% by 2010.
If measures (see EU legislation) were introduced requiring manufacturers to improve energy efficiency it is estimated that televisions across the EU would only consume 70,000 GWh of energy by 2020.
Which TVs are energy efficient?
Choosing your TV carefully can save a lot of energy as TVs differ greatly depending on Size, Type or Technology and whether you choose to go High-definition (HD). For more information follow our easy steps in Choosing your TV.
The annual energy consumption of a television varies and defining what constitutes a ‘typical’ television is difficult. However, for a 32 in widescreen cathode-ray television, the estimates are that the annual consumption will be 292 kWh, and 310 kWh for a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen of the same size. A 42 in (a typical size for this technology) Plasma TV will consume 746 kWh per year.
TV energy consumption differs significantly depending on screen size and the type of set. Larger screens require more energy than smaller sets (see Size Matters), but also tend to utilise newer technologies such as LCD and Plasma. These are often less energy efficient than traditional Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) technology.
There are now clip-on meter monitors with wireless LCD displays will let you know just how much energy your electrical appliances are using. The results may shock you! Not to mention…turning your TV’s volume down actually reduces the energy used!
HINT
Remember to ask retailers for the actual power consumption of TVs as well as what is on the label!
Standby or not to standby?
Power consumption in on-mode is the single most significant environmental aspect regarding the total eco-impact of TVs.
On average a traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) television set uses 100 watts of power when in use and about two watts on standby. Newer LCD and plasma screens are higher users of energy, with the largest models consuming up to 400 watts when in use and about four watts on standby. Source: BBC NEWS ONLINE – OCT 2006
Standby use accounts for around 15% of total energy consumption from TVs. If everyone across the EU remembered to turn off the standby button on their television it would save more than 8100GWh per year – the same amount that would be produced by two whole power stations!
New technology, can reduce the power consumption of standby mode by 90% and the IEA has asked countries to work towards reducing standby power consumption to just 1 watt per appliance by 2010.
There are gadgets that can cut the power to appliances left in standby/sleep mode.
What are the EU doing?
The European Commission have adopted the Eco-design of Energy-using products (EuP) framework Directive, that allows for the introduction of measures to improve the energy efficiency of 14 different product groups – including televisions (see EU legislation for further information).
The European Ecolabel is awarded to products with high-energy efficiency. (See the Links page for further information)
A National Consumer Council survey found that of 350 electrical appliances researched, only 1 carried an energy information label.
Market Research
Domestic energy efficiency: Consumers in the dark
New market research from the Ashdown Group has indicated that consumers across Europe are not fully aware of the impact of household appliances on domestic energy consumption. The research suggests that extending energy labelling schemes to more domestic appliances, such as televisions, would be welcomed by consumers and enable them to make more informed choices when purchasing appliances and help improve efficiency.
Domestic energy consumption – A matter of concern
The Ashdown Group survey indicates that more than 60% of people in the EU strongly feel that the way they conduct their everyday lives is significantly affecting the environment. 4000 people from all age ranges were surveyed in Spain, the UK, France and the Czech Republic to give an impression of attitudes across Europe. This belief was even stronger amongst the young as 72% of 18-24 year olds feel that everyday activity is significantly damaging.
EU energy statistics suggest that this is a valid concern. Domestic energy use increased by 16% between 1990 and 2005 and is responsible for approximately 27% of the EU’s total energy consumption. As consumers purchase more household appliances, domestic energy use is expected to increase further.
Improving energy efficiency and reducing consumption is becoming increasingly important as the effects of climate change become clearer, traditional energy supplies become more limited, and energy prices continue to rise across Europe.
Consumer awareness of the energy impact of domestic appliances
When asked to list the most energy consuming appliances most respondents mentioned fridge-freezers, washing machines, dishwashers and microwave ovens.
However, in reality it is televisions that make a particularly large contribution to overall energy use. In 2005 televisions accounted for 54,000 GWh of energy consumed in the EU – equivalent to almost 63 million tonnes of oil.
A 32” LCD TV consumes more electricity in a year than any of the others. A 42” plasma TV consumes almost double that of a fridge-freezer.
In the European Union energy consumption from TVs is predicted to increase 115% by 2020, unless measures are introduced to improve the efficiency of products. This is because the average number of televisions per household, and the average size of those televisions is increasing. Larger televisions, which often utilise plasma or LCD technology, tend to consume more energy than smaller traditional Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) sets.
Yet only 35% of respondents identified televisions as one of the most energy consuming appliances.
This is perhaps not surprising. Currently TV manufacturers provide little information on the energy efficiency of their products, and what information is provided is often confusing. Indeed, the National Consumer Council in the UK has reported that “there is an almost complete lack of information for consumers who want to make green choices [when purchasing consumer electronics].”
The lack of awareness about the efficiency of televisions suggests that consumers would benefit from more information about the extent to which TVs consume energy, in the same way that existing A-G ratings for White Goods have positively influenced purchasing decisions in favour of more energy efficient products.
Clear, reliable information on the energy efficiency of televisions would enable consumers to make a more informed choice when purchasing a new set.
The benefits to consumers of energy labelling
Results of the survey indicate that energy labels are seen as a clear and trusted source of information on the efficiency of products. 47% of respondents felt that an independent energy labelling scheme was the most important source of information when choosing an energy efficient domestic appliance, compared with just 14% for the manufacturers’ point of sale material.
A number of studies have demonstrated that energy labelling has resulted in an increased take-up of energy efficient products, and the survey supported these findings. 1 in 5 people stated that energy labels were “the first thing they considered when shopping for an electrical appliance.” In France, 36% of respondents felt this way.
It is estimated that since mandatory labelling was first introduced in 1996 the average energy efficiency of refrigerators and freezers, washing machines and dryers purchased in Europe has improved by 20—35%.
The European Commission is currently using the Energy Using Products (EuP) Directive to look at ways of improving the energy efficiency of a number of different product areas, including televisions. A recent report undertaken by Fraunhofer IZM on behalf of the European Commission recommended that introducing a mandatory energy labelling scheme for TVs would significantly improve efficiency.
The cost of energy efficiency to the consumer
It is possible to significantly improve the efficiency of televisions without adversely affecting manufacturers, retailers or consumers.
The Fraunhofer report has estimated that significant improvements in the energy efficiency of TVs could be achieved with little additional cost to manufacturers.
However the survey suggests that consumers are so keen to purchase more energy efficient products that they will pay extra. 70% of respondents indicated that they were prepared to pay a premium of up to 5% for the most efficient television sets. 53% would pay up to an additional 10%.
Summary
- Consumers are not fully aware of the extent to which different appliances use energy. This is particularly true for TVs.
- As a result improvements in energy efficiency will only occur if manufacturers are required to provide consumers with clear and reliable information on their products.
- Energy labelling has been in use for certain products in the EU for over a decade and in that time has been shown to have a significant impact in improving efficiency. Energy labels are now sought out by consumers, and are one of the primary considerations when purchasing certain products.
- Mandatory energy labelling should be extended to more domestic appliances. Introducing labelling for televisions would be an effective, yet achievable, means of improving energy efficiency and should be brought in at the earliest opportunity.
1. European Commission Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, “Energy and Transport in Figures: 2007”, Table 2.6.1
2. Figures calculated using Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Figures (http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/source/notes/page18916.html) and Frauenhofer IZM, EuP Preparatory Study Lot 5 (TV), Final Report Task 8
3. http://www.carbonfootprint.com/energyconsumption.html
4. Lucy Yates, National Consumer Council, “Information Blackout: why electronics consumers are in the dark.”
