February 18, 2008—The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a revised Energy Star specification for televisions. Effective November 1, 2008, TVs that carry the Energy Star label will be up to 30 percent more efficient than conventional models and will save energy while they are on and when they are off.
According to recent market research, US shipments of TVs will top 36 million units in 2008. These TVs will typically be larger, in use more hours a day, and offer more vibrant pictures and other great features than their predecessors. However, these enhancements can come with a hefty energy price tag, notes EPA.
TVs first earned the Energy Star label in 1998 and ever since, TV manufacturers and EPA have worked together on efficiency improvements. The United States now has more than 275 million TVs in use; they consume over 50 billion kWh per year. If all TVs sold in the US meet the new Energy Star requirements, the savings in energy costs will grow to about $1 billion annually
