How Much Does a TV Cost Per Month in Electricity?
Understand your TV's electricity usage and calculate its monthly cost. Get clear insights into what influences your bill.
The monthly cost associated with operating a TV depends on several factors, including the television’s power usage, how often it is used, and the local electricity rates. By examining these elements, individuals can gain a clearer understanding of their TV’s contribution to their overall electricity bill.
Understanding TV Power Consumption
Power consumption for a television is measured in watts, indicating the rate at which it uses electricity. You can typically find a TV’s power consumption information on its energy label, in the product specifications, or within the user manual. Energy labels often provide the annual kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption based on 1000 hours of usage, alongside an energy efficiency rating.
Televisions consume power in two main states: active use and standby mode. While actively in use, modern TVs generally consume between 50 and 200 watts. In contrast, when a TV is turned off but remains plugged in, it enters a standby mode, typically drawing a small amount of power, ranging from 0.5 to 3 watts.
Calculating Your TV’s Monthly Electricity Cost
To determine a TV’s monthly electricity cost, convert its power consumption from watts to kilowatt-hours (kWh). One kilowatt-hour equals 1,000 watt-hours. To perform this conversion, multiply the TV’s wattage by the number of hours it is used, then divide by 1,000. For instance, a 100-watt TV used for 5 hours consumes 500 watt-hours, or 0.5 kWh.
Next, calculate the total monthly kWh consumption by multiplying the daily kWh usage by approximately 30 days. If the 100-watt TV is used for 5 hours daily, it consumes 0.5 kWh per day, totaling 15 kWh per month. The final step involves finding your local electricity rate, which is listed on your utility bill or your utility company’s website. The average residential electricity rate in the United States is around 17 cents per kWh.
To calculate the total monthly cost, multiply the total monthly kWh by your electricity rate. Using the example of 15 kWh per month and an average rate of $0.17 per kWh, the monthly cost would be $2.55.
Factors Affecting TV Electricity Costs
The type of display technology significantly influences a television’s electricity consumption. Older CRT and Plasma TVs generally consume more power than modern LCD, LED, and OLED models. While OLED TVs can be more energy-efficient when displaying dark scenes due to their ability to turn off individual pixels, they may consume more power than LED-backlit LCDs when showing bright, high dynamic range (HDR) content.
Screen size also directly impacts power usage, with larger televisions requiring more electricity to operate. A larger screen needs more powerful backlights and processing to maintain brightness and resolution, leading to increased power draw. Consequently, a 65-inch TV will consume more energy than a 32-inch model, even if they use similar technology.
Usage habits, such as the daily hours a TV is on, are a direct determinant of monthly costs. Additionally, display settings like brightness and picture modes can affect power draw. Reducing the brightness level can decrease energy usage, as the backlight is a primary power consumer.