Television’s energy consumption has reduced dramatically in recent years.
A 42” Plasma TV watched for 4 hours a day could cost you up to
whereas a 42” LED TV may only cost you around
saving up to
On standby a PS4 still uses 10 watts of power per hour. Assuming an average of 21 hours spent on standby a day, by turning it off at the plug would save you £11 per year = 36kg of CO₂.
Approximate cost of using a games console per year including standby. Wii U £13, PS4 £35, Xbox One £43. Be careful how you use your console and switch it off when not in use.
Modern TV’s left on standby for 20 hours a day only use a tiny amount of energy, costing about 50 pence per year. This is very little but it is still better to turn your TV off completely.
Purchase an LED TV rather than a plasma TV, it uses far less energy.
Try choosing a smaller TV – it generally means a more efficient TV.
If available, buy a TV with an ambient light sensor – if you are viewing your TV in a darker room with the sensor switched on, it can reduce power consumption by 30-50% by adjusting the contrast of the picture automatically.
If you are happy with an SD (Standard Definition) TV as opposed to an HD (High Definition) it will tend to consume less energy.
Hang onto your current TV for as long as possible, but if you are having to buy a new one, then make sure it has the best energy rating possible (at least A+).
When buying a personal video recorder, look for one with a low power performance rating.
Make sure you pick the most appropriate games console for your use, their running costs vary as below:
Wii U – approx £13 per year
PS4 – approx £35 per year
Xbox One – approx £43 per year
