An Entertaining Way To Save Money And Energy (NAPSA)—Becauseof their large screens, today’s advanced-display TVs consume more energy than older sets. That’s why the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program has changed the wayit rates such sets. To help consumers take energy usage into account when choosing a television (just as when buying air conditioners or refrigerators), the program now rates TVs based on their energy efficiency when they’re on. In the past, Energy Star assigned ratings that reflected energy consumption while TVs were turned off. A television draws power even when off so you don’t have to wait for it to “warm up.” Technology Can Help The technology supporting the products you choose can make a major difference in the energy consumption of your big-screen TV. For example, engineers at 3M have developed Vikuiti brand optical enhancement films, including reflective polarizers, which help LCDsuse light in the mostefficient way, resulting in a brighter screen while reducing the amountof power needed to produce the light. The films recycle light, allowing more to ‘1HMED } ad Becauseof their large screens, today’s advanced-display TVs consume more energy than older sets. Fortunately, some use a lot less than others. reach the viewer. As a result, less wattage is needed to generate light and less energy is consumedby the TV—as much as 37 percent less than with other big-screen sets. For Learn More more information on Energy Star TV ratings, visit www.energystar.gov and click on “Home Electronics.”
