Buying a greener TV

With the digital transition in June, you might be one of millions of folks ready to buy a new television. If energy-use or other environmental factors play a role in your decision, in addition to things like cost, performance, and brand reliability, here are some tips to help you shop your way to a greener TV

Know the different types. There's a big variation in how much power different types of TVs consume. Some plasma sets can consume more power than your fridge, as our testers found when they measured the power consumption of a range of TV types. LCD televisions and monitors draw less power than plasma screens or CRTs, assuming the same screen size. Also, keep in mind, the larger the screen, the more power any TV consumes.

Find out which companies offer recycling. You can opt to support a TV manufacturer with a recycling program. But not all recycling programs are necessarily convenient or address the handling of toxics found in TVs, which can pose hazards for recyclers and the environment. Find out how manufacturers (and a few retailers) measured up in a recycling report card recently issued by the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, a non-profit advocacy group. The good news is that Sony and Samsung, the highest scoring brands in the study, also make sets that often fare well in our performance tests.

Consider the Energy Star. There's no federally imposed limit on how much electricity TVs can use. But the Energy Star can help you find a TV that makers claim are about 30 percent more efficient than comparable non-qualified models.