According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy, here are about 275 million TVs currently in use in the U.S., consuming over 50 billion kWh of energy each year - or 4 percent of all households’ electricity use. This is enough electricity to power all the homes in the state of New York for an entire year.

The Environmental Protection Agency has revised the qualifications for televisions to achieve the Energy Star label, requiring TVs to be 40 percent more energy efficient than conventional models. The new requirements that were recently announced demonstrate the agency’s continuing commitment to helping consumers find and purchase the most efficient products in this highly dynamic product category. These requirements will help consumers save even more energy and money and fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions while allowing them to continue to enjoy the features, performance and quality they expect.

Televisions meeting the EPA’s new, more stringent Energy Star specifications will be available in stores nationwide starting May 1, 2010. The new requirements raise the bar on how energy efficient a TV must be to earn the Energy Star label. They require TVs to use less energy when turned on, ensure a satisfactory level of brightness, and curb power associated with downloading program guide data.

Earning the Energy Star means a product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. For TVs, it means they save energy both in standby and active (when they’re on) modes. Energy Star qualified TVs use about 30% less energy than standard units.

This all translates to big savings for consumers and the environment. If all televisions sold in the United States met the new Energy Star requirements, Americans would save $2.5 billion annually in energy costs while reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the emissions of about 3 million cars. With more than 19 million TVs with screens larger than 40 inches expected to ship to American homes in 2010, these Energy Star requirements will offer important savings in larger size TVs. For example, the new requirements for 46 and 50 inch TV models will deliver almost 50 percent savings over conventional models of the same size.

To locate the television user’s manual for the model(s) you currently own, visit the ManualsOnline Library.