An energy expert warns that big-screen televisions and the equipment they are hooked up to can use as much power as a refrigerator, but most consumers don't realize it until the electricity bill arrives.

Anne Wilkins, manager of the federal government's Energy Star program, said that while Canadians are making their homes more energy efficient, they are often unaware of how much power their electronic equipment uses.

Potential customers for big-screen televisions relax as they watch a plasma model at a Best Buy store.
(Jim Mone/Associated Press)

"We have seen an increase of energy use in homes, and a lot of it has to do with this type of equipment," she said.

Big-screen TVs are often connected to other equipment that gobble up power, such as DVD players, satellite boxes and home theatre systems, she said.

"The more square inches you have, the more energy it uses … Televisions can use as much energy as a refrigerator, or even more than an energy-efficient refrigerator," she said.

"When you bring those things into your house, and you look at your energy bill and you say, 'Wow, I am using a lot more electricity,' it could be because of your consumer electronics." 

Energy Star ratings still under development

Wilkins says plasma TVs tend to hog the most energy, but how much juice a TV uses depends on its make, model and style, so she recommends researching before you buy.

An Energy Star sticker on a TV means it uses less than three watts of power when it's turned off, but still plugged in and technically on standby. Conventional sets can use up to 12 watts. Technology has evolved so rapidly, however, Energy Star doesn't yet offer information about how much power those TVs use when they are turned on.

LCD more green: salesman

Andrew Kenyar in Calgary sells high-end TV systems and says plasmas get a bad rap for energy consumption. However, he says there is a better choice if you want green technology.

"Flat-screen LCD is certainly the way to go. It is the most environmentally friendly to build and dispose of at the end of its lifecycle, and it will also use the least amount of energy through the lifecycle of the product itself."