3M Launches Consumer Awareness Campaign on TV Energy Consumption St. Paul, Minn. - November 17, 2009 - 3M’S Optical Systems Division today announced that it has launched a consumer awareness campaign in an effort to raise awareness of household TV energy consumption and what to consider when purchasing an energy efficient TV. Specifically, the company is hoping to provide valuable information to consumers through the media to educate the public about energy efficient TVs and the issues surrounding TV power consumption in the home. As TV sizes get larger and consumers watch more television, energy consumption in these household fixtures has increased dramatically. In fact, with an average of two or more TVs per household turned on for a combined average of 8.2 hours per day1, U.S. household TV energy consumption is expected to equal or surpass the amount of energy used to power refrigerators—a figure that could double by 20302. With the holiday sales season kicking off this month, it is the ideal time for consumers to learn about energy efficient TVs. The simplest way to look for an energy efficient TV is to visit the Energy Star® website and review the estimated annual power consumption for the TV set sizes consumers are interested in and look for the Energy Star® label in stores. “In the U.S., consumers lack awareness and knowledge about advancements in TV energy efficiency, and how the decisions they make when shopping for a new TV could greatly reduce their power bills and leave less of a carbon footprint on our planet. Moreover, it’s also difficult for consumers to determine which TVs are the most energy efficient,” noted Jim Bauman, vice president of 3M’s Optical Systems Division. “Fortunately, today there is a wide range of energy efficient TV technologies available, allowing consumers to reduce energy consumption in their TVs without sacrificing picture quality.” For more information on TV power consumption and energy saving tips, contact Stacey Voorhees-Harmon for 3M’s fact sheet and additional references at stacey@savvypublicrelations.net or 925-336-9592.
3M’s Optical Systems Division makes Vikuiti Dual Brightness Enhancement Films (DBEF), which recycle light within LCD TVs to make them more energy efficient, while improving picture quality.
A recognized leader in research and development, 3M produces thousands of innovative products for dozens of diverse markets. 3M's core strength is applying its more than 40 distinct technology platforms - often in combination - to a wide array of customer needs. With $25 billion in sales, 3M employs 75,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 60 countries. Reader CommentaryRoger Halstead • Nov 20, 7:00pm Today's 40 - 50 inch LCD's use far less energy than my old 21 inch CRT monitor did. They use less energy than any of my computers and a fraction of what our old tube TVs used. They also use considerably less than plasma sets of the same size.... eliwhitney • Nov 21, 4:20am A THOUGHT ... re: National Power Consumption . . . " IF " there might be genuine concerns regarding consumption in future Only from / by big screen TVs - - - how might the existing state of that very same Electrical Grid & power generation system ever going to be able to withstand the onslaught of "Plug-in Autos" now being actively planned as the means to wean the U.S. from foreign crude ?.... eli... FHSPSU67 • Nov 21, 5:22am Excellent thought, and back when we all had 21-inch CRT TV's, the electric companies (who I spent my career with) were begging for people to build their new homes with "electric" heating. They later retracted their "lifetime reduced rates" for these homeowners. Any other company would have been sued out of business for misleading advertising, etc.... Roger Halstead • Nov 21, 12:49pm Yup...I built a 2100 sq fit, all electric, ranch style with full (mostly finished) finished basement. The basement rooms were heated with 4400 watt forced air, in wall heaters. The rest of the house was IR ceiling cable. Our total utility bill was $90 a month. Then they went back on their word...actually I think they were sued because this gave the bulk users preferential rates. My next bill was for $290 and this was back in 1967 when $290 in today's dollar would make a sizable house payment. The next month the bill was back to $90 so the power company came out and installed a new meter. It too said our usage had dropped dramatically. They never bothered to ask if we'd changed anything. The day after that $290 bill arrived we were already installing an oil fired hot water system with 4 zones. BTW when we were ready to turn on the power Consumers wouldn't change the pole transformer. We had just finished plastering and had the basement heaters upstairs to help dry the plaster. T... dadden • Nov 21, 3:22pm But, back to grid capacity and electric cars. It won't take long at all or the addition of many electric cars when charging up 20 to 40KW battery systems before grid capacity is exceeded even in "slack time". Doing a bit of math it appears to me that each electric car will be the equivalent of adding another home to the grid. That will be when electricity gets expensive. That's why a lot of people say that the real answer will be hydrogen power fuel cells. :) I saw an episode of Top Gear where they discussed this technology. If they can get the distribution sorted out for the hydrogen then we will be able to power our houses off of the fuel cells when they aren't powering our cars. Brian.... Roger Halstead • Nov 21, 3:29pm This is wandering a bit from the original subject but it is still energy saving related. Hydrogen, unless produced from crude is very expensive and takes a lot of energy to produce of which you only get part back when it's used. Also per unit volume it carries much less energy than gas and fuel oil.... dadden • Nov 21, 4:05pm
True. But it could be a direct drop in for the fuel that we use now. It could be made by solar powered plants. Because you are correct in that it is expensive to make. Sunlight is the one way that we could make it without wasting resources. Also hydrogen would be a good temporary storage medium for the output of the solar network. After all if you are making electricity then if the grid doesn't need what you produce where does it go? I also like the Honda Fuel Cell Powerpack that is removable from the car and generates enough power to actually run a normal house. :D Seriously look at the Honda Fuel Cell episode of Top Gear. James May presented it. I think the car is called the Clarity. Brian.... More in Category: Environmental
About Shane SturgeonShane Sturgeon is the Co-Publisher and Chief Technologist of HDTV Magazine, an industry publication with HDTV roots going back to 1984, when Dale Cripps founded The HDTV Newsletter. Today, HDTV Magazine is a leading online resource for HDTV news and information and captures the eyes and imaginations of over 3 million visitors annually. Mr. Sturgeon has a background in information technology and has served in various consulting capacities for Fortune 500 companies such as J.P. Morgan Chase, Verizon Communications, Proctor & Gamble and Nationwide Insurance. He has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Wright State University. |
advertisement
Authors
Categories
Other Recent Discussion
|
||||||||