Prices for big-screen television sets are dropping, but the cost of home entertainment may still be headed up. That's because the fancy screens shoppers are lugging home this holiday season consume far more electricity than their old-school predecessors.
Consider that a 42-inch plasma set can consume more electricity than a full-size refrigerator - even when that TV is used only a few hours a day. Powering a fancy TV and full-on entertainment system can add nearly $200 to a family's annual energy bill.
Most consumers aren't made aware of extra energy expenses when they are shopping for a TV. Energy Star tags, a government program that identifies the most energy-efficient models, won't begin flagging the "greenest" televisions until late next year.
Business, Page 3
•In general, liquid crystal display, or LCD, screens use less power than plasma sets of comparable size. And in the largest screen sizes, projection televisions typically use less electricity than LCD or plasmas.
•In the biggest screen sizes, a projection television is a better option from an energy-use standpoint because it consumes about 150 watts to 200 watts, far less than a plasma or LCD screen.
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