It’s a good life – you finally have the entertainment room of your dreams. The centerpiece is a state-of-the-art smart TV. As you can probably imagine, a 65, 70, 75-inch, or even bigger TV can use up a lot of energy. In this post, we’ll discuss just how much power it takes to use your home theater, and the potential impact it can have on your electric bill.
ENERGY USAGE
As TVs continue to grow in size, their energy consumption can also grow. Depending on the size of the TV and how much you watch, you could use as much as 500 watts over the course of a year. That adds up to about $100 in power bill costs for your TV alone. A seemingly small portion of your total power bill, but it all adds up.
Here are a few of the factors that will help you determine just how much power your TV uses:
- LCD screens, or liquid crystal displays, are very common in modern TV screens and are considered pretty energy efficient.
- For even more efficiency, try an LED screen. Just like with LED lighting, these are usually more efficient than traditional models.
- Plasma TVs are going out of style, and one reason is that they use up much more energy. They also require more internal equipment, which adds to the power usage.
EVALUATING MY TV
Ok, so just how much energy does your TV use? Energy Guides are now mandatory, so it should be easy to figure out your usage, and then calculate how much it will cost. Just look for the black and yellow label on the back of the TV for more info.
Of course, it’s important to remember that the Energy Guide generally represents a very conservative usage estimate. If you watch a lot of TV, be sure to account for that.
IMPACT ON MY BILL
If you have a large new TV, especially if it’s a plasma, and you have a lot of screen time, it’s entirely possible you could see a jump in your annual bill. LCDs or LEDs will use less energy, and you can find out just how much by checking their Energy Guide label.
WORTH THE CALL
Televisions are just a small part of your home’s energy usage. During the summer in Midland and Odessa, your air conditioning likely uses the vast majority. The Bosworth Company has certified professionals for your HVAC, as well as licensed electricians who can review all the systems in your home to make sure you’re getting the most for your money when it comes to energy efficiency. Make an appointment online, or give us a call today at (432) 570-5233. It’s Worth the Call. Always.