Finding the eco-friendly (or the least eco-hostile) TVs can still be tricky. Statistics on power consumption are available if you look for them (CNET maintains a helpful database), but they aren’t typically flaunted. Even when “eco-friendliness” is advertised, it might just be a case of subtle greenwashing. Vizio LCD TVs branded with the Eco HD tag, for example, are at least 20% more efficient than the latest Energy Star guidelines call for, but that’s still a far cry from being a true energy-sipper.

The Energy Star sticker is theoretically a good starting point in the search for a green TV. But as of March 16, more than 1,100 HDTVs are Energy Star 3.0 compliant. That’s way too many TVs for the designation to be meaningful. Thankfully the newest Energy Star standard (version 4.0) takes effect on May 1 and is much more discerning. For example, a 42-inch HDTV must be 45% more efficient to be compliant under the new standards.

Generally speaking the most environmentally friendly TVs are LED-backlit LCD sets (I’ll just call them LED TVs from here on out). They’re far more energy efficient than plasma or conventional LCD sets, which both use fluorescent lights. Fluorescent lamps release about 80% of their energy as heat, according to the Energy Star Web site, so a huge amount of power is wasted. A well-built LED is much more efficient and should be mostly cool to the touch.

LEDs are also free of mercury, a toxic metal used in all fluorescent lights. So when it’s time to pitch (or preferably, recycle) your LED TV, hopefully many years down the line, it’ll create less toxic waste than a conventional LCD or plasma.

Sources
Forbes 3/23/2010
C|NET database of TV’s based on their power efficiency