subject: LCD TV vs Plasma: which is greener? [print this page] LCD TV vs Plasma: which is greener? LCD TV vs Plasma: which is greener?
You have found yourself a great TV to purchase... and whether it be a 50 inch plasma TV or a 22 inch LCD TV, you are wondering just how much energy it will use and how much in electricity will be consumed when you buy it. There is, after all only one planet and you don't want to be socked for a massive energy bill when it comes in.
First and foremost, let's be honest. The bigger the TV you have, the more energy it will consume. If you buy, say a 22 inch LCD TV, you can expect that the energy cost will be very low, say 60-80W of power. A 32 inch LCD TV may use 85-120 watts and a 55 inch can use 200 watts or more. The other thing to remember about LCD TV's is that not all of them support full HD, which is 1080p. Matter of fact, most TV's that are smaller than 32 inches do not support 1080p. 1080p is fantastic clarity for playing games, like on a Playstation 3 or an XBox 360 or watching movies on a Blu-Ray player. Most TV programmes do not broadcast in 1080p, so if you're just watching TV, this won't be an issue for you.
Because of the technology used to power these, a Plasma TV will always require more energy than an LCD. Plasma TV's also used to have a problem with it's half-life. What you have to realise with Plasma TV's are that they require the igniting of a gas in order to bring your images to life. In the old days of Plasma TV's, its shelf life was between 15 000 and 20 000 hours. Fortunately, new technology does allow for 100 000 hour TV's. When the half-life of the gas has expired, you will experience fading of the TV and the TV cannot be refilled.
As a result of this, Plasma TV's are, on average, over 50% more of an energy hog than an LCD TV. Also, while LCD TV's can be sold in as small as 15 inches, a plasma TV will not be sold below 37". If your ideal TV is smaller than that, you won't be able to use a plasma TV. Some 50" plasma TV's actually consume close to 500 watts of power, and even if you calibrate it properly, you might knock it down to 400 or 375, but even in "power save" mode, a plasma TV is going to be much less green than an LCD TV.
Are there advantages to a plasma TV? Of course. Plasma TV's have a very fast refresh rate. Say you want to gather your friends around and watch some football. Plasma TV refresh rates can be up to 10 times faster than an LCD TV, and you will notice the football moving smoother on a Plasma than you would with the LCD.
In conclusion, because Plasma TV's are so much bigger than LCD's along with the technology used, you will generally consume less power with an LCD TV than you will with a Plasma. It pays to shop around and find out how much your TV will consume. It never hurts to save a few quid in the long run.
