Changing These 5 Tv Settings Greatly Reduced My Electricity Bill - Here's Why

Adam Breeden/ZDNET

A modern TV uses importantly little power than 1 from a decade agone — which makes sense, fixed really overmuch much power-efficient today's show panels person become.

According to Perch Energy, nan mean powerfulness depletion of an aged TV runs astir $54 per twelvemonth successful power costs. Because LED-backlit TVs and OLEDs devour little powerfulness than accepted LCD screens, newer models costs astir $32 annually. 

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In ample part, nan bigger your surface size, nan much powerfulness your TV requires. But location are ways to attenuate your TV's powerfulness depletion each clip you move it on. Here are immoderate settings you tin alteration to prevention much money connected your adjacent energy bill. Even if it's conscionable tens of dollars that you're yet saving, it's still a small little money coming retired of your pocket, and that's nan goal.

What are EnergyGuide ratings?

First, if you're reasoning of buying a caller TV, commencement pinch nan astir basal root of information: nan EnergyGuide explanation and nan ENERGY STAR rating. Each TV connected a showroom level will show these labels. This accusation from manufacturers provides a reliable metric for comparing ratio among TV sets. 

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Ratings scope from A to G, pinch an A standing being nan highest and astir energy-efficient. However, it is uncommon to find a TV pinch an A rating. For a smart TV, a standing of D aliases E is considered highly efficient. New TVs certified by ENERGY STAR must person comparable features and beryllium 25% much energy-efficient than competitors. While galore energy-efficient televisions whitethorn costs much upfront, you'll quickly retrieve nan quality successful value done power savings.

But what astir your existent TV settings? There are a fewer you tin tweak for amended results.

1. Lower your brightness

Brightness connected immoderate tv is simply a tricky variable. It tin heighten your viewing experience, but sometimes excessively overmuch brightness isn't worthy nan money. Over-brightness tin distort clarity and contrast, and it besides costs other pennies. Some newer TVs person sensors that observe ambient ray -- automatic brightness power (ABC) -- and automatically set nan brightness.

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On your TV, look for an Eco mode aliases Movie mode. Select 1 of these for optimal power ratio and a realistic viewing experience. In nan end, you mightiness do some your eyes and your checkbook a favour by reducing brightness.

2. Set a slumber timer

I cognize it's not perfect slumber hygiene, but I confess that I bask going to furniture pinch my TV on. I luxuriate successful drifting off, bathed successful its comforting glow. This is besides senseless, I know, successful position of being economical. So, I group a slumber timer connected my Samsung. When nan TV detects nary activity for 2 hours, it automatically turns off. This is akin to Standby mode, which you tin besides alteration to powerfulness down your group aft a predetermined play of nary interaction.

3. Turn disconnected your surface erstwhile streaming music

Ever perceive to Spotify aliases 1 of nan euphony channels included successful your cablegram package? If you're listening to euphony done your TV, you don't really request nan visuals. Many TVs person a typical mounting that allows you to move disconnected nan surface entirely, but you tin besides little nan brightness if that action isn't available.  

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The aforesaid goes for utilizing your TV simply for inheritance noise. If you're not watching nan screen, you tin prevention money by turning disconnected nan lumens and focusing connected nan volume.

4. Power down completely

New TV sets usage astir 55 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a year. For comparison, a refrigerator uses an mean of 550 kWh per twelvemonth -- but your refrigerator lacks nan luxury of shutting down for a rest. Even erstwhile you move disconnected your TV pinch nan remote, it tends to spell into Standby mode, continuing to usage astir 0.4 watts. To really limit your TV's powerfulness consumption, I propose plugging it and immoderate peripherals into a powerfulness strip, truthful you tin swiftly move everything connected and off.

5. A statement connected image value and power

If you're looking to importantly trim power usage, an OLED TV is an fantabulous prime owed to its precocious pixel technology. OLED TVs characteristic pixels that emit their ain ray and tin move connected and disconnected individually. This precise power allows for deeper blacks, higher contrast, and little wide powerfulness consumption. By turning disconnected individual pixels erstwhile displaying acheronian scenes, OLED TVs devour little powerfulness compared to accepted LCDs, which require a backlight that's ever on.

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As mentioned earlier, if you're successful nan marketplace for a TV, I urge an OLED model pinch an EnergyGuide standing of D that's ENERGY STAR certified. However, it's important to statement that higher resolutions mean much pixels, which tin consequence successful greater power consumption. A 4K surface has 8.29 cardinal pixels, 4 times much than a 1080p screen, requiring 4 times nan energy.

Before making a decision, see your viewing habits. Many streaming services still connection contented successful 720p aliases 1080p. Assess really often you watch 4K contented to find if nan higher power depletion of a 4K TV is justified for your needs.