Photo by Jens Kreuter on Unsplash
When it comes to energy-efficient behavior at home, one of the most important lifestyle changes one has to adopt in order to stop wasting energy is a responsible use of electrical devices. As a matter of fact, appliances and devices are probably the most insidious energy hogs in your home – as long as they are plugged into the electrical socket, they will probably draw some energy.
With each individual appliance, the energy waste compiled can mount up to astronomical waste and bills. TV screens are among such devices, and if you are keen on living a green lifestyle, here are tips on making your TV-watching experience more energy-efficient.
Start with the label
Before you purchase your TV screen, browse through the store a bit longer. Ask the retailers to show you a choice of screens which are labeled for efficiency. In terms of wasteful energy, the screens are categorized and graded on a scale from A to D, or to be more exact, the best possible grade a TV can get in terms of energy efficiency is A+++. You should know that choosing a plain A- or B-graded TV set is not the most prudent energy-efficient option by today’s standards. In other words, take into considerations only those devices that come with one to three pluses after the A.
Bigger isn’t better
The TV screens appear to get bigger year by year. They can pretty much simulate a theatre experience and soon enough they might get as big as the entire wall space. However, bigger does not mean better – larger screens mean more spent electricity, and you don’t need the biggest screen in the world for the most immersive experience. It is all a matter of arrangement. This does not mean you have to make universal sacrifices. The way you have arranged your entertainment zone does not strictly influence the energy consumption – you can set up your sleek TV wall mounts, have speakers hanging from each corner of the room, and create a bona fide home theatre worthy of a front cover of an interior design magazine.
LED is good?
The latest LED screen products are much more energy efficient than their LCD counterparts. However, many people dismiss this option outright. When a retailer mentions LED screens, people tend to associate the notion with low-res and messy images from the days when this mass-produced technology was in its infancy. However, these days this technology is much more nuanced and sophisticated. The LED grid of diodes spends a fraction of electricity your regular TV screen would – the light bulbs of this ilk have a similarly good reputation. In the realm of TV screens, LED variants spend as little as one-third of the electricity their LCD counterparts do. That’s a world of difference which will indeed, based on what you choose, make a noticeable impact on the monthly bill!
Tinker with the settings
However, not all energy-efficient decisions are made in the store. There are several things you can do while tinkering with the setting to make your TV more eco-friendly. For example, changing the brightness settings can help out a lot, and you can tinker with this according to the level of lighting in the room. This is why you should install pitch-black curtains on the windows that surround your TV screen, so you can always have that option. Another advantage of LED TVs is the local dimming setting – which deepens the blacks, turns off select parts of the backlighting and adds depth to the image, while reducing the energy consumption of the device at the same time.
Simply – unplug
Finally, once you finish your TV binge or movie marathon, simply unplug your TV screen from the socket – this might sound like a drastic option, but, as mentioned above, television sets belong to the group of electronic devices that draw at least a minimal amount of electricity as long as they are plugged into the grid. This habit for the TV and, indeed, most other devices that do not need to be plugged in unless when used, will create a positive discrepancy in your monthly bills, let alone the sum total of money wasted by the end of the year.
Electronic devices and entertainment setups have become some of the most ubiquitous elements in homes worldwide. Entire rooms have become reserved for such setups exclusively. This means that such a trend also increases the danger of energy waste and one needs to take responsible steps in order to have a more energy-efficient experience. The upside of this is, essentially, that you can have the cake and eat it too – it’s all about changing some specific habits, and these tips may help you do just that.
Guest post by Carolin Petterson
About the Author
Carolin Petterson is a Business Lady and contributor for number of high-class websites. She loves to share her experiences and talk about practical solutions, but her specialties are sustainability, sustainable business and green living.
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