Purchasing Toolkit – Consumer Electronics
ENERGY STAR® – Televisions
Any TV, TV Combination Unit, Television Monitor, or Component Television Unit that is marketed to the consumer as such (i.e., focusing on television as the primary function), which meets the respective product type definition in Section 1, and is capable of being powered from either a wall outlet or a battery unit that is sold with an external power supply is eligible to earn the ENERGY STAR.
Criteria for ENERGY STAR Qualified Televisions
| Screen Area | Maximum On Mode Power Consumption (“A” is the viewable screen area of the product in inches2 , found by multiplying the display width by the display height) |
Standby Mode Power Consumption |
|---|---|---|
| Non-High Definition TVs (i.e. <= 480 Native Vertical Resolution) |
||
| All | Pmax = 0.120 * A + 25 | 1 watt |
| High Definition and Full High Definition TVs (i.e. > 480 Native Resolution) |
||
| A < 680 in2 | Pmax = 0.200 * A + 32 | 1 watt |
| 680 in2 <= A < 1,045 in2 | Pmax = 0.240 * A + 27 | |
| A > 1,045 in2 | Pmax = 0.156 *A + 151 | |
For example, the maximum power consumption for a TV with 768 pixels of native vertical resolution, a width of 36.6 inches and a height of 20.6 inches (that has a screen area of 754.0 square inches) would be: 0.24(754.0) + 27 = 207.96 or 208 watts when rounded to the nearest whole number. Examples of average On Mode power level requirements for other sample screen sizes are provided below.
| Viewable Diagonal Screen Size (inches) |
Aspect Ratio | Viewable Screen Size (inches) | Maximum On Mode Power in Watts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 480 Lines of Native Vertical Resolution | 768 or 1080 Lines of Native Vertical Resolution | |||
| 20 | 16:9 | 17.4 x 9.8 | 45 | 66 |
| 32 | 27.9 x 15.7 | 78 | 120 | |
| 42 | 36.6 x 20.6 | 115 | 208 | |
| 50 | 43.6 x 24.5 | 153 | 318 | |
| 60 | 52.3 x 29.4 | 210 | 391 | |
TV Products with Automatic Brightness Control
To account for the power savings achieved through automatic brightness control, where the feature is activated by default when shipped to the end user, On Mode power consumption should be determined as follows: Pa1_broadcast = 0.55* Po_broadcast + 0.45*Pabc_broadcast, where Pa1_broadcast is the average On Mode power consumption in watts and rounded to the nearest whole number, taking into consideration that the TV will be in low ambient light level conditions 45% of the time; Po_broadcast is the average On Mode power consumption in watts and rounded to the nearest whole number, and tested with a minimum ambient light level of 300 lux entering directly into the sensor; and Pabc_broadcast is the average On Mode power consumption in watts and rounded to the nearest whole number, BUT when tested with an ambient light level of 0 lux entering directly into the sensor. When determining ENERGY STAR qualification, products which ship with automatic brightness control enabled should compare their On Mode power consumption (Pa1_broadcast), found using the equation above, to the maximum On Mode power consumption allowed (PMax), determined using the equations in the Criteria table above.
TV Products Using an External Power Supply
To qualify, the external power supply must be ENERGY STAR qualified or meet the no-load and active mode efficiency levels provided in the ENERGY STAR Program Requirements for Single Voltage Ac-Ac and Ac-Dc External Power Supplies. The ENERGY STAR specification is on the ENERGY STAR Web site and the qualified product list can be found on the U.S. ENERGY STAR Web site at www.energystar.gov/powersupplies.
User Information Requirement
In order to ensure that consumers are properly informed of the benefits of keeping their TVs in the default modes as shipped, particularly for those models that incorporate additional features and functionality that, if employed, would result in increased energy use beyond that intended by the ENERGY STAR requirements for On and Standby, the manufacturer will include with each TV one of the following:
- Information on ENERGY STAR and the benefits of keeping the TV at its factory default settings that meet ENERGY STAR criteria in either a hard copy or electronic copy of the user manual. Where necessary, manufacturers will also include language advising consumers that enabling certain features and functionality in their TV (e.g., instant-on) will increase its energy consumption, possibly beyond the limits required for ENERGY STAR qualification. This information should be near the front of the user manual; or,
- A package or box insert on ENERGY STAR and the benefits of keeping the TV in its factory default modes. Where necessary, manufacturers will also include language advising consumers that enabling certain features and functionality in their TV (e.g., instant-on) will increase its energy consumption, possibly beyond the limits required for ENERGY STAR qualification.
Cost Savings for ENERGY STAR Qualified Televisions
Below is a comparison of ENERGY STAR versus non-ENERGY STAR qualified products, based on the ENERGY STAR Simple Savings Calculator, Version 6.0. The calculator allows users to quantify expected energy and cost savings and estimate greenhouse gas emission reductions. This information can be used in business cases comparing ENERGY STAR qualified products and non-qualified products.
| Equipment | 400 Televisions (32" screen size) (6 year life) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENERGY STAR | Non-ENERGY STAR | |||
| Annual | Lifetime | Annual | Lifetime | |
| Energy Consumption (kWh) |
57,558 | 345,348 | 72,382 | 434,291 |
| Energy Cost (@ 11.6¢/kWh) |
$6,683 | $30,895 | $8,404 | $38,852 |
| Maintenance Cost | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total Operating Cost | $6,683 | $30,895 | $8,404 | $38,852 |
| Purchase Price | $200,000 | $180,000 | ||
| Total Life-cycle Cost | $230,895 | $218,852 | ||
| Total Energy Savings (kWh) |
14,824 | 88,943 | ||
| Total Energy and Maintenance Cost Savings |
$1,721 | $7,957 | ||
| Emissions savings (kg CO2 ) |
2,965 | 17,789 | ||
| Payback Period | NEVER1 (based on initial purchase price of $450 per non-qualified unit and $500 per ENERGY STAR qualified unit) | |||
1The payback period of "NEVER" is based on the default purchase prices for qualified and non-qualified products in the ENERGY STAR Simple Savings Calculator Version 6.0, which currently provides for a cost increment of $50.
The emissions savings resulting from purchasing 400 ENERGY STAR qualified televisions (32" screen size), instead of 400 non-qualified units, are equivalent to planting 291 trees.
Sample Procurement Language for ENERGY STAR Qualified Televisions
You may wish to use the following procurement language in contracts to ensure you receive ENERGY STAR qualified televisions. As with all purchases, be sure to ask the appropriate questions to ensure that you get exactly what you want.
The vendor must
- Verify that the model has been qualified to bear the ENERGY STAR symbol by a manufacturer participating in the ENERGY STAR initiative.
- Provide televisions that meet ENERGY STAR specifications for energy efficiency. This means that all products consume 1 watt or less of power in standby mode, and do not exceed the maximum power consumption values outlined in the Criteria above.
- Ensure that ENERGY STAR qualified products meet user requirements for performance, reliability and cost-effectiveness.
For bulk purchases and/or lease/maintenance agreements, include the provisions that - where applicable - the vendor must:
- Deliver all qualified products properly configured for current ENERGY STAR specifications.
- Ensure that installation services include the full activation and proper configuration of any automatic energy-saving, power-down and/or power management features in order to maximize energy efficiency.
- Ensure that maintenance services include the full re-activation and proper re-configuration of any automatic energy-saving, power-down and/or power management features to the terms of the current ENERGY STAR specifications at the time of service.
- Customize sites and train users in order to maximize the energy efficiency of installed products.
- Not disable power-management features except at the specific request of site staff.
- Provide on-going customer support on all energy-saving, power-down and power management features.
Information Resources on Televisions
List of Models
Canada and the United States share ENERGY STAR qualified product lists.
On-line and downloadable lists of qualified models include the following information:
- Company Name
- Brand Name
- Model
- Series
- Product Type
- Screen Type
- Screen Size (inches)
- Screen Area (inches2)
- Resolution
- Automatic Brightness Control
- On Mode Power (watts)
- Standby Power (watts)
- Watts in Standby (no POD installed)
- Watts in Standby (POD installed)
- Estimated Annual Energy Consumption (kWh/year)
How to Access
The qualified product list can be found on the U.S. ENERGY STAR Web site.
Product specifications for Televisions are available by contacting Natural Resources Canada.
Original Data Source
Data supplied to NRCan and EPA by participating manufacturers. Products may be self-certified or certified by an independent third party, to determine if they meet the ENERGY STAR technical specifications.
Update Frequency
ENERGY STAR criteria are updated as required.
The list of qualified models on the ENERGY STAR website is updated as manufacturers report new information.
Definitions
Television (TV): A commercially available electronic product designed primarily for the display and reception of audiovisual signals from terrestrial, cable, satellite, Internet Protocol TV (IPTV), or other transmission of analog and/or digital signals, consisting of a tuner/receiver and a display encased in a single housing. The product usually relies upon a cathode-ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display, or other display device.
Television Monitor: An electronic product intended to display a video signal from an external tuner or other video source such as a VCR or DVD player on a CRT, LCD, plasma display, or other display device. For purposes of the specification, this definition includes analog and digital television monitors. Television monitors with computer capability (e.g., computer input port) may qualify as ENERGY STAR under this specification as long as they
- are marketed and sold to consumers as focusing on television/video as the primary function, and
- incorporate Display Power Management Signalling (a standard from the VESA consortium for managing the supply of power of video monitors for computers through the graphics card) so that users may benefit from power management, allowing the product to automatically enter a low power mode after a certain period of inactivity, when it is being driven by a computer through a computer input port. Television monitors are considered to have computer monitor capability under this specification if any input on the product is intended by themanufacturer to be used as a computer input, and, as such, the product complies with the FCC's Class B Computer Peripheral requirements and is authorized under the FCC's Declaration of Conformity program.
Rear-Projection TV: A type of TV in which the display device is a projector that focuses images onto a screen located within the housing of the TV.
Direct-View TV: A type of TV whose display device emits light either directly from the screen surface or transmits light from a source mounted directly behind the screen. Examples include CRT, LCD, and plasma display technologies.
TV Combination Unit: A system in which the TV and an additional device(s) (e.g., DVD player, HDD, VCR, etc.) are combined into a single unit and which meets all of the following criteria: the additional device(s) is included in the television casing; it is not possible to measure the power requirements of the two (or more) components separately without removal of the television casing; and the system is connected to the wall outlet through a single power cable.
Component Television Unit: A television system composed of two or more separate components (e.g., display device and tuner) marketed and sold as a television under one model or system designation. The system may have more than one power cord. For purposes of meeting ENERGY STAR criteria, the total power for the system is considered.
Analog: For purposes of the specification, analog televisions have an NTSC, PAL, or SECAM tuner and may have analog video inputs (e.g., composite video, component video, S-video, RGB).
Digital: For purposes of the specification, digital televisions include at least one digital tuner or at least one digital video input (e.g., HDMI). Products with an analog tuner and both analog and digital inputs should be considered digital units.
Native Vertical Resolution: The physical pixel count for the vertical axis of the television. For example a television with a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 would have a native vertical resolution of 1080.
Electronic Program Guide (EPG): An interactive, onscreen menu of TV program information (e.g., time, date, description of TV programs, etc.) downloaded from an external source.
External Power Supply: A component contained in a separate physical enclosure external to the television casing and designed to convert line voltage ac input from the mains to lower dc voltage(s) for the purpose of powering the television. An external power supply must connect to the television via a removable or hard-wired male/female electrical connection, cable, cord or other wiring.
Point of Deployment (POD) Module: A conditional access module for digital cable signal reception.
Standby: The lowest power consumption state which cannot be switched off (influenced) by the user and that may persist for an indefinite time when the appliance is connected to the main electricity supply and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. For purposes of this specification, Standby is defined as the time when the product is connected to a power source, produces neither sound nor picture, neither transmits nor receives program information and/or data (excluding data transmitted to change the unit's condition from Standby to On Mode), and is waiting to be switched to On Mode by a direct or indirect signal from the consumer, e.g., with the remote control.
Download Acquisition Mode (DAM): The product is connected to a power source, produces neither sound nor a picture, and is downloading channel listing information according to a defined schedule for use by the electronic programming guide, monitoring for emergency messaging /communications and/or otherwise communicating through a network protocol. The power use in this mode is typically greater than the power requirement in Standby and less than that in On Mode.
On Mode/Active Power: The product is connected to a power source and produces sound and a picture. The power requirement in this mode is typically greater than the power requirement in Standby and Download Acquisition Modes.
Disconnected: The product is disconnected from all external power sources.
| Name of current specification | ENERGY STAR Technical Specifications for Televisions Qualifying Criteria (Version 4.1 and 5.1) |
|---|---|
| Effective date of current specification | Version 4.1 becomes effective May 1, 2010 |
| Notes on future updates | Version 5.1 becomes effective May 1, 2012 |
| Reminder: Always check the ENERGY STAR website to ensure you have the most current product specifications and other program information. | |
