11 days to go

Before you rush out and buy your Kris Kringle (maybe not ) or a family member or loved one (maybe not either) a large screen TV read this article and the fact that a large wide screen TV can use the same energy as your medium size fridge WOW.

Spotlight falls on TV energy use

* Josh Gordon
* December 14, 2008, The Age

PEOPLE will be encouraged to buy energy-efficient TVs under a star-rating system being rolled out from today to coincide with the Christmas rush.

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett said people often did not know how much energy their TV used.

"One in four Australians buys a new television each year and televisions are now the fourth-largest users of electricity in our homes after water heating, domestic refrigeration and lighting," Mr Garrett said.

"A large, wide-screen TV can use the same energy as a medium-sized fridge each day, which is more than your dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer combined."

TV energy use has already quadrupled over the 20 years to 2006 and is expected to keep rising rapidly because of increased usage and new technology enabling larger and even more energy-hungry screens.

The TV labelling program is voluntary but will become mandatory by the end of next year. Minimum energy performance standards for new TVs are also set to begin in October.

The new system will be similar to the labelling systems already in place for appliances such as fridges, dishwashers and air-conditioners.

The more stars, the more energy efficient the television.

It means a three-star television uses a fifth less energy than a two-star product with the same-sized screen.

A recent Australian Bureau of Statistics survey found that energy and water efficiency were the main factors people considered when buying whitegoods.

The Government has been encouraging people to spend their bonus cash payments from its $10.4 billion economic stimulus package on retail goods, including flat-screen TVs.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said that despite the potentially high energy costs, he would strongly encourage people to enjoy a "digital TV Christmas".

"With the transition to digital-only television broadcasts now well under way, Christmas is the perfect time for Australian viewing families to experience the many benefits of digital TV," Senator Conroy said.