As 4K TVs rise in popularity, so will energy consumption. According to a Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) study , 4K televisions consume 30 percent more energy than 1080 HDTVs most households use now. This adds up to combined $1 billion increase in energy costs per year.
The NRDC reports there are 300 million active televisions in the U.S., equaling out to nearly one per person. 50 inch televisions are becoming the new household standard. The study predicts customers looking for a new television set will start to buy ultra high definition 4K TV’s above 36 inches, rather than 1080p. However, ‘the bigger, the better” attitude may cost you.
Aside from the cost, the NRDC has two other concerns:
8 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in additional electricity use per year, or as much electricity as 2.5 large (500 megawatt) power plants produce annually -- three times the amount of electricity consumed by all of the homes in San Francisco each year.
5 million extra metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution emitted annually from the additional electricity use.
The NRDC is calling for changes to state and federal energy policies. The study highlights the following solutions:
The Department of Energy (DOE) should update the federal television test method to better reflect conditions likely to exist in actual consumer use.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) should establish a centralized, online version of the Energy Guide label with more up-to-date comparative information than is now on the mandatory TV labels, and should also provide 10-year lifetime operating cost information to help motivate buyers to choose more-efficient models.
Utilities should design incentive programs to reward products at the most efficient level or, at the very least, at some percentage better than ENERGY STAR to ensure that rebates draw the market toward best practices.
Manufacturers and retailers should provide more detailed guidance to consumers about how to operate televisions efficiently .
4K TVs will continue to drop significantly in price in the coming years, but still aren’t particularly affordable. Expect to pay a little less than $1000 for a 50-60 inch 4K TV depending on the brand. LG’s prices tend to be the highest. Known for producing the best of the best 4K and OLED TVs, you’ll pay $1,500 to $3,000 for a screen 65-inches or larger depending on the model. However, cordcutters who opt out of expensive cable bills may be willing to pay extra for the best picture quality. Sports fans and avid gamers live for high-def viewing options.
Popular streaming devices like the Roku 4 and Amazon Fire TV are 4K compatible. Even though 4K content is scarce, a lot of customers are already preparing for the big switch to ultra high definition programming.
If you’re thinking about buying a 4K TV, make sure to look for a brand with an ‘Energy Star’ label. An automatic brightness control feature will also conserve power. Avoid Smart TVs that don’t power down all the way. If you’re TV is in standby mode all day, your electricity bill may cost more.
