Have you ever wondered why your television draws so much power for normal use? Most people don't know that a single setting, often hidden within the menus of your TV, can significantly reduce your energy bills. Finding out about this hidden TV setting isn't just good for your pocket, but can also give you an edge in making your home green. Let's take a look and discover what the majority of people don't know about!
Why TVs Use More Power Than You'd Expect
Flat-screen TVs are found in nearly every living room—however, did you know that the latest models can run between 100 and 400 watts/hour dependent on the size of the screen and setting? This is a lot considering that TVs are usually kept on for long periods of time. The most important thing is that a lot of TVs have factory settings that prioritize performance and brightness over energy efficiency.
The Hidden "Eco" or "Energy Saver" Mode
Under the display settings you’ll usually see a feature dubbed "Eco Mode" or "Energy Saver". When you turn this on, it can reduce the power consumption of your TV by as much as 30 percent without any significant change in image quality. This is space-age savings in a matter of minutes! Backlighting, brightness, and contrast will automatically alter to use just enough power to provide an enjoyable viewing experience without overdoing it.
Surprisingly, the Energy Information Administration estimates that the average US household pays $103 a year just to power TVs.
How to Set Up and Use the Eco Mode
Finding this switch is simple—however, you must be aware of where you can find it. Usually, it's located in the TV's Picture or Settings section.
- Set the TV's settings by using your remote.
- Navigate to General settings or Picture.
- Find terms such as " Eco Mode", "Energy Saver" or "Power Saving".
- Select the mode and save the changes.
Once you've enabled it, you'll likely notice that the screen dims only a bit—however, the difference in energy consumption is quite impressive. For US homeowners, it's an excellent option in the long run and can be a sustainable option for savings.
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Recommended For YouThe Impact: Real Numbers, Real Savings
Let's do some quick math. The Department of Energy says the average TV runs for about five hours a day. If you're using a 150-watt TV, that's about 750 watt-hours each day. When you use Eco Mode, the reduction of 30% off your energy consumption can save you around the equivalent of 82 kWh per year. If the typical US electricity bill is around 16 cents for each kWh, that's about $13 per year—just for one television.
Checklist: Make Sure You're Getting the Benefits
- Check if your TV is equipped with the most recent software updates for the latest energy settings.
- Set a timer for sleep to prevent running during the night.
- You can calibrate the brightness of your room, not just the default brightness of the factory.
- Shut off your TV completely, or utilize a smart plug for auto-shutoff.
What Else Can Smart Homeowners Do?
Apart from adjusting that one secret setting, smart home users can also automate their appliances to run at the optimal timings, monitor the power consumption of their appliances using smart plugs, and schedule screen-free hours to save. It's amazing how gaining control of your devices can help you save energy in your home and be energy-efficient, especially when home technology continues to grow!
In the end, choosing and setting the energy-saving feature of your TV is among the most simple energy efficiency tricks around. Try it and feel the difference yourself. If you've ever searched How can I reduce the power consumption of my TV? into Google, now you've got the answer. And your wallet will be grateful!
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