I’m sitting here watching a football game on my very old TV and have decided now’s the time for a replacement. What should I know about energy use before I pick the one I want?
Television use in the Northwest consumes nearly 3.7 billion kilowatt-hours of energy each year, according to estimates from the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. And that use is growing exponentially.
According to the Consumers Electronics Association, the average U.S. home has three TV sets, in addition to assorted DVD players, VCRs and cable boxes. All use energy when in use, and most continue to use energy when in standby mode. That’s how the instant-on feature works on your TV. If you’re older than 40, you probably remember when you had to wait for the TV to warm up.
You’ve probably noticed that the trends are toward bigger and better electronics, but these devices can be big energy users.
Power planners at Clark Public Utilities and other utilities are concerned about this trend as they consider how to meet future energy needs. That concern led to a new regional effort to promote technologically advanced televisions, desktop computers and monitors that are especially energy efficient.
This effort, known as “Energy Forward,” got under way last fall. Participating retailers display a bright orange button guiding shoppers to electronics that are among the best made today — and that are at least 30 percent more efficient than the basic specifications for Energy Star units.
Consumers can find these electronics at many retailers, including Sears, Walmart, Costco, Best Buy and independent stores throughout the Pacific Northwest.
New research on consumer electronics preferences in the region reinforces the notion that when it comes to high-end electronics, shoppers want the latest and best technology for the money. The good news is that performance and efficiency go hand in hand.
There is now an entirely new generation of electronics, all engineered to use much less energy.
“The Energy Forward message tells customers in the market for a new television that the newer, most technologically advanced products can also save hundreds of dollars in energy costs over the life of the television,” said Karen Austin, president of consumer electronics for Sears Holdings.
More information on Energy Forward, including a list of retailers and a list of super energy-efficient consumer electronics, is available at http://www.energyefficientelectronics.org.
The Energy Forward program is the work of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. Clark Public Utilities is one of more than 100 utilities that supports the work of NEEA, a non-profit organization working to maximize energy efficiency to meet future energy needs.
It’s estimated that energy efficiency could satisfy up to 85 percent of our new demand for energy, saving money and keeping the Northwest a great place to live.
The Energy Adviser is written by members of the energy counselor team of Clark Public Utilities, who provide conservation and energy use information to utility customers. Send questions to energyadviser@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, in care of Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668. Past topics are available at http://www.clarkpublicutilities.com.
