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If you’re anything like most people, you probably leave your TV plugged-in 24/7 without a second glance. We assume that our TVs are completely off when we turn them off after watching our favorite show or beating the final boss in a late-night game session. You’ve probably noticed that there are still lights on your TV. Does it still draw power even after you turn it off?
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Even after you turn off your TV, it will continue to draw electricity in standby mode. You may be wondering why your TV continues to draw power in standby mode. It does this because it uses the power for its standby features. By staying in a low power state, your TV is ready to respond to commands from the remote control or voice commands. It can also be powered on quickly. This low-power mode also allows the TV to download updates or apps.
TVs do consume power in standby mode
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This may seem like an issue if you’re trying not to make mistakes that will increase your electric bill. This may seem wasteful but it’s not something to worry about. Your TV uses a small amount power when it is not in use.
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The good news is the amount of energy that your TV uses in standby mode, which is typically between 0.5 – 3 watts depending on the model, is very low. If we use the average electricity rate in the US of 16.44 cents for a kilowatt hour, a TV that draws 1 watt 24/7 in standby mode would cost approximately $1.44, while if it draws 3 watts, it would cost approximately $4.32. If you own an energy-efficient TV, the cost could be lower. However, a model with advanced “always-on” functions could cost you more. If you have an older TV or multiple devices plugged into your home for long periods of time, or if you want to save energy, you might want to unplug these devices when not in use.
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Tips to reduce your TV’s energy consumption
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Even though your TV uses little energy in standby mode many of us have habits which lead to higher electricity consumption than we realize. You may not even realize that you are increasing your electricity bill and energy consumption by leaving your TV on for background noise or at its highest brightness setting. Dimming the brightness of your TV is one of the easiest ways to save energy. You can save energy by reducing the brightness of your TV.
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You can also use the energy-saving mode on your TV. Most modern TVs come with eco or power-saving modes that optimize energy usage by automatically adjusting the screen brightness, disabling fast-start features, and turning off the display when inactive. Consider investing in smart plugs if you want to save money and energy. You may think it’s obvious, but turning off your TV regularly is a simple way to reduce your energy consumption. Even though it may be convenient, you should not use your TV in ambient mode as a speaker for extended periods. These features keep the screen and internal components partly active, which can consume a lot of power, even though it appears that the TV is idle.
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