In a timely development for the green era that plasma HD proponents are hailing, it is now possible for environment-conscious consumers to purchase large new plasma HD models that purportedly consume less energy than the smaller analog TV screens that they are likely replacing.
The Plasma Display Coalition, representing such brands as Pioneer, LGE and Hitachi, said more than 40 large-screen plasma models introduced by its member companies in recent months have earned the new “Energy Star” rating and subsequently have been placed on the official U.S. government roster of energy-efficient “qualifying HDTV sets” by the Environmental Protection Agency.
(The EPA, while loosening many of its standards for other industries in recent years, actually tightened its standards for TV sets a month ago.)
To qualify for an Energy Star, for example, a 42-inch plasma HD model turned “on” is allowed to consume no more than 208 W. (Many same-size and smaller CRT sets consume at least 250 W, according to the coalition.) In “standby mode” when the set is “off,” all newly qualified HD sets must use no more than 1 W of power.
The coalition believes the Energy Star symbol is “very highly regarded by consumers and retailers.”
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