As an owner of a large flat-screen television, I was frustrated to find out that it was consuming more electricity than my old TV. I was determined to find out why this was the case, so I did some research and testing to figure out what was going on. In this blog post, I’m going to share with you what I learned and the solutions I discovered to help you better understand if bigger TVs use more electricity.
The answer is yes, increasing the screen size increases the needed electricity. Yet, that’s not the only factor to consider when buying a TV, or accommodating the usage of the current one.
| Factors & Features Affecting Electricity Consumption | Details | Tips & Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | Bigger TVs generally use more electricity | |
| TV Type | Newer TVs (LCDs, LEDs) are more energy-efficient than older ones (CRTs, Plasma TVs) | Choose newer, energy-efficient models |
| EnergyGuide Label | Check the label for kilowatt-hour usage and cost estimates | |
| Energy Star Models | Energy Star approved TVs use 25% less electricity | Look for the Energy Star logo |
| Automatic Brightness | TVs with automatic brightness sensors adjust according to room lighting | Choose TVs with this feature |
| Energy Saving Mode | Adjusts brightness and reduces electricity consumption | Look for TVs with energy-saving modes |
| Sleep Timer | Turns off the TV after a period of inactivity | Consider TVs with sleep timers |
| Standby Mode | Turning off the TV completely instead of leaving it on standby can save electricity | Unplug the TV when not in use |
| Brightness Settings | Higher brightness settings use more electricity | Adjust brightness to a comfortable level |
| Unnecessary TV Usage | Limit TV usage when it is not actively being watched | Replace with music or podcasts |
Table of Contents
Do Bigger TVs Use More Electricity?
As technology advances the ability to manufacture better and bigger TVs became the norm. It’s not a surprise to find most homes having TVs that’s exceeding the 40-inch size. Also, not shocking to find the 60-inch TVs in other homes.
However, increasing the size of your TV can increase your energy use so you might want to look up your TV specs once again.
Do Older TVs Use More Electricity?
Not only does the size of the TV matter but also the type of the screen. Because you might have a TV type that’s smaller in screen size but uses more electricity.
Newer types are often more energy-efficient than older ones. The LEDs and LCDs, for example, use about one-third the energy of the older types such as plasma TVs and CRTs.
It’s worth mentioning that, if you consider the same type of screen, increasing the size of this type, also increases the energy consumption.
How to Estimate Your TV’s Electricity Consumption?
The Federal Trade Commission requires that all TVs made in 2011 or later have an EnergyGuide label. Those labels show how much electricity the TV uses in the form of kilowatt-hours and how much it costs.
Those numbers are based on the cost of $0.11 per kilowatt-hour and the use of 5 hours per day. If your rates are far from that, you can look up your power company’s rate per kilowatt-hour and determine how many hours a day you use your TV. Multiply the two numbers and you should get your average cost.
If you have a TV set made before 2011, you can look up the wattage value from the back panel of your TV (the number followed by a W). Then multiply Wattage by the number of hours you use the TV a day, then divide by 1000. The result is your kilowatt-hour rate.
What to Look for When Buying a TV?
Take a look at the following features that will make your search for a more cost-efficient TV easier.
Energy Star Models
The Energy Star logo on a TV set simply states that it’s been approved by the Department of Energy. Those models are more energy-efficient than other ones. On average, They use 25% less electricity.
Automatic Brightness
TVs with high brightness may cost more to run. Automatic brightness TVs contain sensors that adjust the screen brightness according to the room’s lighting. A function that reduces electricity consumption greatly.
Energy Saving Mode
Rather than changing the brightness settings in TVs that don’t have automatic brightness, having an energy-saving mode in the TV will do the trick.
This mode can adjust the brightness to be compatible with daylight by dimming the backlight so that electricity consumption is reduced.
Sleep Timer
Sometimes forgetting the TV on can lead to more electricity consumption without actually using the TV. This feature will turn off the TV if you leave it without interaction for a long time.
How to Decrease TV’s Electricity Consumption?
Even if the TV is cost-efficient, we can still use it in ways that consume more electricity. Here’re a few tips on how to reduce unnecessary consumption.
Don’t Leave Your TV on Standby
Standby mode can increase your consumption by a minimal amount. However, this amount can accumulate over time leading to more electricity usage than needed.
Additionally, some TVs never shut down entirely, but rather stay on standby for whenever you use the remote to turn it on again.
To reduce the amount of standby, shut down the TV entirely, if not possible by remote you may need to take the cable out of the wall.
Turn Down Brightness
Higher brightness can result in larger bills. Some TVs come with factory settings that are brighter than needed. Always reduce brightness to a level that’s easy on the eye and more energy-efficient.
Don’t Use the TV More Than You Need
We often forget the TV on, or even open it up without actually using it, so that it could make some background noise in the room.
If you find yourself doing that often, maybe replace the unnecessary use with listening to some music or podcasts. It won’t consume the same amount of electricity.
Summary
Do bigger TVs use more electricity? Yes. However, other factors might increase electricity usage. Older TVs such as CRTs or plasma TVs can consume more electricity than newer versions such as LCDs or LEDs.
Additionally, Energy Star models are more energy efficient. TVs can be more efficient too with added features such as automatic brightness and sleep timer.
Moreover, you may need to shut down your TV entirely and not leave it on standby if you want to cut your cost.