Think about new TVs' energy costs

I always like to save money, and today, energy is money. Before you run out and buy that new super size, flat screen, LCD or plasma, digital TV, you should look behind your old tube-type analog TV set and read the wattage. If it reads in amperes, calculate: Volts x Amperes = Watts.

The wattage is the amount of power your TV uses. My old analog TV screen measures 25.5 inches by 19.25 inches, or 32 inches diagonally. It uses only 152 watts. I looked at an LCD, digital, flat-screen TV that costs $600 in one store. It measured 18.25 inches by 32.5 inches, or 37 inches diagonally. The tag on back of this TV says it uses 120 volts and 3.1 amps, which calculates to 372 watts. That means it will cost me more than double to run the $600 TV, compared to my old analog. Some difference for a screen measuring just 5 inches more diagonally and one inch less in height. Your old analog system will also draw slightly more wattage when you use the new box for converting analog to digital. Mine uses 8 watts. I noticed that it is very difficult to see the wattage in back of the large screen TVs in stores, but you should try asking before you buy. Imagine what a 56 inch diagonal TV will cost to run at roughly $8 dollars per 1,000 watts.

Frank J. Sasevich

Bolingbrook