I planned on buying an LCD TV this year, but now I’m hearing about LED TVs. What are they and should I be considering an LED model instead?
It’s somewhat misleading to call these LED TVs. They are LCD (liquid crystal display) televisions that use LEDs (light emitting diodes) to provide the backlighting, instead of the cold cathode fluorescent lamps typically used. Manufacturers claim they offer a superior picture.
“If you put an LED next to a non-LED running on the same signal, you will see darker darks and more contrast,” said Nick Carter, an electronics salesman at Sears in Vancouver. LEDs also allow manufacturers to make ever-thinner TVs, which are popular with the public.
From an environmental standpoint, LED-backlit LCD TVs have no mercury and use less energy — between 30 percent and 50 percent less according to manufacturers’ claims.
“They’ve only been out for a short time, but they also are saying LED LCD TVs will last twice as long. You’ll make up the cost difference in saved energy over time,” Carter said.
2 ways LEDs are used
Manufacturers either use LED edge-mounted backlighting at the borders of the screen, allowing for the thinner TV profile, or in a full-array backlight. However in doing research, we found there’s still debate whether the edge-mounted LEDs do much to improve the picture, as opposed to full-array backlighting, which gets a thumbs-up in the category. You’ll probably want to ask which type of LED application is in a specific TV.
Currently you’ll pay a premium for a LED-backlit LCD. Carter said a top-of-the-line, 46-inch LCD TV will cost between $1,900 and $2,400. “With an LED, you’re looking at $2,500 to $3,000.”
Like all technology, it’s likely the price of LED-backlit LCDs will drop as more models are offered. Market research firm iSupply Corp. of El Segundo, Calif., predicts sales of LCD TVs with LED backlighting will increase to 90 million in 2013, up from 438,000 in 2008.
Shop smarter, save energy
Whatever you decide, we encourage you to buy a TV with an Energy Star “save more” label. These models are the most energy-efficient TVs on the market today. Clark Public Utilities has joined with Energy Star and leading retailers and manufacturers in promoting efficient TVs.
There are about 12.5 million televisions in the Northwest, using more than 37 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year. If all the consumers in the region bought TVs that qualified for the “save more” designation, we’d save the amount of energy needed in a year by all the homes in Seattle. Participating stores include Best Buy, Costco, Kmart, Sears and Walmart.
Finally, as if shopping for a TV is not confusing enough, manufacturers will soon sell 3D televisions.
The Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities energy counselors, who provide conservation and energy use information to utility customers. Send questions to energyadviser@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, in care of Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA. 98668. Past topics are available at www.clarkpublicutilities.com.
