Energy Efficiency Success Story: TV Energy Consumption Shrinks as Screen Size and Performance Grow, Finds New CTA Study

Cost to power the average LCD TV is just six cents a day

ARLINGTON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today’s televisions are consuming less energy and saving consumers more
money – even as TVs increase in size and resolution capabilities –
according to a new study released today by the Consumer Technology
Association (CTA). The study LCD
Television Power Draw Trends 2003 to 2015 finds that LCD
TVs from 2015 consume 76 percent less energy (per screen area) than they
did in 2003, now costing consumers on average only six cents a day to
power one TV.

“The declining energy use by today’s TVs – which have bigger screens,
more lifelike pictures, sharper resolution and are more capable than
ever – is a major environmental success story,” said Gary Shapiro,
president and CEO, CTA. “Tech innovation is making our favorite products
thinner, lighter, faster, smarter and more energy efficient. And this
study shows how our industry provides the latest and greatest tech to
consumers, while remaining committed to increasing environmental
sustainability.”

According to the study, TVs’ declining energy consumption largely stems
from improvements in lighting technology and its operation. In
particular, backlight dimming is reducing the power needed to display
high-resolution images. Additionally, energy efficient features such as
Automatic Brightness Control (ABC), which dynamically adjusts screen
brightness in response to indoor lighting conditions, have become more
common.

Other highlights from the study include:

• From 2003 to 2015, the average on-mode power draw of TVs decreased 76
  percent (from 300 to 70 mW/in²).
• The passive standby draw of TVs dropped 63 percent (from .8 to .3
  watts)
• Since 2010, the average TV screen size increased to at least 40 inches.
• More televisions are being sold with energy-saving features, such as
  Automatic Brightness Control (ABC) and Motion Detection Dimming (MDD).

Improvements to televisions and energy efficiency technology have jumped
over the past decade. The study confirms that voluntary, market-driven
initiatives, such as ENERGY STAR, have been most effective in promoting
energy efficiency while also keeping up with the rapid pace of
innovation. Today, more than 80 percent of the TVs sold in the U.S.
satisfy the ENERGY STAR program’s increasingly stringent voluntary
efficiency requirements.

“Industry innovation continues to be the greatest asset we have to
advance the energy efficiency of our tech devices,” said Doug Johnson,
vice president of technology policy, CTA. “And television manufacturers
deserve enormous credit – their ingenuity and commitment to making more
energy efficient products is cutting our power consumption, reducing
greenhouse gas emissions and lowering consumers’ energy bills.”

The study was conducted by the Fraunhofer
Center for Sustainable Energy Systems CSE and commissioned by CTA.
The power draw of more than 9,000 TV models were reviewed for this
study. Data came from the California Energy Commissions appliance energy
efficiency database, the ENERGY STAR program specification development
archives and data extracted from a study by King and Ponoum (2011).

Relevant to the power consumption of TVs, a standardized way to measure
energy use is fundamental. The consumer technology industry has
initiated efforts at the domestic and international levels, with
participation by governments and energy efficiency advocates, to update
the current consensus measurement standard for TV energy use to reflect
technology and market changes.

For tips on how to live green, buy green and recycle consumer
electronics responsibly, visit GreenerGadgets.org.
To learn more about the consumer technology industry’s sustainability
and efficiency efforts, explore The
Consumer Technology Association 2015 Sustainability Report.

About Consumer Technology Association:

Consumer Technology Association (CTA)^TM is the trade
association representing the $292 billion U.S. consumer technology
industry, which supports more than 15 million U.S. jobs. More than 2,200
companies – 80 percent are small businesses and startups; others are
among the world’s best known brands – enjoy the benefits of CTA
membership including policy advocacy, market research, technical
education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering
of business and strategic relationships. CTA also owns and produces CES^®
– the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of
consumer technologies. Profits from CES are reinvested into CTA’s
industry services.

Contacts

Consumer Technology Association
Elliot Grimm, 703-907-5240
[email protected]
www.CTA.tech
or
Izzy
Santa, 703-907-4308
[email protected]