EPA announces TV Energy Star ratings

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced updated Energy Star details for televisions.

Now, the top 25 to 30 digital televisions will be labeled by Energy Star as the most efficient models in order to decrease the amount of energy used by televisions. The Consumer Electronics Association applauded the EPA's announcement.

"CEA and its members are proud to have worked directly with the EPA to develop a specification so new-generation televisions can bear the well-recognized Energy Star label," said Gary Shapiro, president and chief executive officer of CEA. "The consumer electronics industry has been committed to Energy Star since its inception in 1992, and together we have developed market-oriented energy efficiency incentives covering major categories of consumer electronics."

For the first time, the new Energy Star specification will take into account active mode or "on" mode power consumption in addition to standby mode energy use.

"EPA is thrilled to announce the completion of the new On Mode Energy Star specification for televisions. This specification has the potential to save Americans billions of dollars and avoid millions of metric tons of carbon being released into the environment," said Katharine Kaplan, EPA product manager, Energy Star Consumer Electronics and IT Products.