TVs

A significant part of the typical energy consumption of today’s televisions could be saved with the most efficient appliances currently available, and even higher savings will be possible with next generation technologies. Televisions (TVs) are one of the most widespread consumer electronics in the world. Due to the popularity of televisions, saturation of this type of appliances is generally very high in industrialized and already high in newly industrializing countries. Within these countries most households own at least one TV. In many industrialized countries, televisions are among the highest energy-using consumer electronics in the average home. With focus on the user perspective, energy and cost saving potentials are presented, which can be achieved by the most efficient appliances currently available (Best Available Technology, BAT) and from designs that are technically feasible with what we know today, but which are not yet commercialized (BNAT: Best Not (yet) Available Technology).

As TVs are generally very popular, saturation levels are already very high in industrialised countries. At the same time, high growth rates can be observed in developing and especially in newly industrialising countries. About 1.9 billion TVs are in use worldwide (Scenario reference year 2010). With an average annual electricity consumption of 199 kWh each, altogether they account for about 7 % of the total electricity consumption from the residential sector and cause worldwide annual greenhouse gas emissions of 249 million tons of CO₂-eq. If every time a TV is purchased, the most energy efficient model is chosen, 475 TWh of electricity and 313 million tons of CO₂-eq per year can be saved by 2020. Even further savings are achievable by 2030.

Design options exist, which would allow further reductions in energy consumption compared to the most energy-efficient appliances available today. Significant additional savings of more than 50 % in specific energy consumption can be expected, depending on appliance types and size. These options include more efficient backlight sources, improved panel designs and dimming approaches as well as future design options such as OLEDs. However, still more research and development is necessary to bring appliances with such technology faster to the market and at a reasonable price.

A standard definition for energy consumption and a test procedure to measure it are necessary to ensure market transparency and to apply effective policies. Thereby an adequate test procedure is needed to measure this specific energy consumption in a realistic and reproducible way. Together, the definition and the test procedure form a test standard. Such a standard makes it possible to introduce MEPS (Minimum Energy Performance Standards) and labels. Electricity consumption of TVs is measured in accordance with IEC62087.