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November 24, 2009
Fit and slim LED-backlit TVs a bright idea
Blaine Kyllo
For bchydro.com
If you've been looking for an excuse to buy a new television, now just may be the time. New LCD flat screens that use LED backlighting technology save, on average, as much as 50% of the power as sets that are only a few years old.
"Televisions are far and away the biggest power drain among electronic devices in B.C. households," says David Rogers, information technology advisor for BC Hydro Power Smart. Your television screen pulls more electricity than furnace fans and computers. Rogers estimates that one percent of all electricity used in B.C. is used to power televisions.
"The new LED backlight TVs save significant energy over the more power-hungry CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp) backlight technology used in previous years," says Rogers, stressing that you should always look for the ENERGY STAR label when shopping for TVs. "Even comparing last year's backlight TVs to today’s there has been a significant improvement in energy efficiency."
The LED advantage
In addition to power savings, the use of LEDs has other benefits. Televisions are thinner, for one, ranging from 29 mm to a maximum of 113 mm in depth. The LED lighting also allow for better contrast in the screens, which makes for a more vivid picture with richer colours and deeper blacks. And they are more durable than traditional LCDs, with predicted lifespans of 100,000 hours, two-thirds longer.
LED backlit flat screens are also connecting with your other electronic devices. Most include USB ports so you can plug your digital camera directly into the screen for viewing photos, and most are Internet-enabled, so they can access your home network to stream YouTube video and display Yahoo! widgets like stock tickers and weather reports.
So, what's out there?
Four of the major LCD television manufacturers have released flatscreens that make use of LED backlighting technology. Power Smart recommends always opting for ENERGY STAR electronics and taking into consideration that, depending on the size of your room, the biggest TV may not be your best choice, especially when energy use is taken into consideration.
(Screen sizes below are as measured diagonally).
Samsung 8000 series
- available in 46" and 55"
- only 29 mm deep
- can connect to DLNA-enabled Samsung mobile devices
Sharp Sharp LE700 series
- available in 32", 40", 46" and 52"
- auto adjust screen brightness based on level of light in room
Sony Bravia XBR10 series
- available in 46" and 52"
- Presence Sensor automatically shuts off the television when you leave the room
- wireless transmission system: cables feed into a separate media box which then transmits the audio and video information to the XBR10 wirelessly
Toshiba Regza SV670 series
- available in 46" and 55"
- SD Card slot
When you're in the store, looking at the array of televisions in all their glory, look for a "save more energy" sticker, which identifies ENERGY STAR displays. These sets use at least 40% less energy than standard screens and use less power when in standby mode. The screens listed here all meet or exceed ENERGY STAR 3.0 guidelines.
Heat loss and gain
If you're getting a new television to cut down on your electricity bill, a more efficient set will certainly help. But in the winter, keep in mind that you may have to turn up the heat in your living room a bit to make up for the missing heat your old set used to give off. Or you can put on a sweater.
Of course, that lost heat becomes a big plus in the heat of summer. If next summer is anything like the last one, you'll be thankful for the cooler room as you sit down to watch the World Cup of Soccer or your favourite movie.
Out with the old
Your old television — and all electronics that become surplus after gifts are opened in December — should be recycled. Visit Encorp Pacific's electronics recycling site to learn more and find a Return-It Electronics location near you.
Blaine Kyllo is a Vancouver-based freelance writer.
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