FAQ: Can flat-screen TVs make the efficiency grade?

Yes, but remember size is what matters most. If you purchase a plasma TV with a 54-inch screen or bigger, it could consume 600 watts when it’s on, which is on par with your refrigerator. However, most TVs aren’t running all day, so a refrigerator will consume more electricity in total. The good news is that efficiency has been improving steadily over the past few years and there’s a lot less variability among models. So LCDs with a similar-sized screen will have about the same energy consumption rating. That’s also true, though to a lesser extent, for plasma TVs, according to CNET’s Katzmaier.