Flat Panel Lcd Monitors: Saving Electricity With Simple Tricks

Flat-panel LCD monitors are now the most common type of computer monitor, replacing the older CRT models. While they are more energy-efficient overall, there are still steps you can take to reduce your energy consumption and save electricity. One common misconception is that a black screen will save energy, but this is not the case with LCD monitors. In fact, because of the way LCDs work, a black screen can sometimes use more energy than a white one. The brightness of your screen will also impact energy usage, with a dimmed screen using less power. You can also make use of the power-saving features on your monitor, such as setting it to turn off or go into standby after a period of inactivity.

Turn off the monitor when not in use

Turning off your LCD monitor when it's not in use is one of the most effective ways to save electricity. While it may seem convenient to leave your monitor on, especially if you only plan to step away for a short period, those minutes can quickly add up to significant energy consumption over time.

LCD monitors typically consume between 15 and 30 watts of electricity while in use, with larger screens and higher resolutions tending to use more energy. For example, a 27-inch LCD monitor may use up to 100 watts of power. However, even when in sleep mode, LCD monitors can still draw between 5 and 10 watts of power. This means that if you leave your monitor on for an extended period when you're not using it, it can contribute significantly to your electricity bill.

To illustrate the potential savings, let's consider a scenario where you leave your 27-inch LCD monitor on for an additional two hours each day while you're not using it. Assuming the monitor consumes 100 watts of power per hour, that's an extra 200 watt-hours or 0.2 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity used per day. Over a year, this adds up to 73 kWh of electricity, which, at an average cost of $0.13 per kWh, would cost you about $9.49 extra on your electricity bill.

By simply turning off your LCD monitor when you don't need it, you can eliminate this unnecessary energy consumption and reduce your electricity costs. This not only saves you money but also helps reduce your carbon footprint and contributes to a more sustainable future.

Additionally, it's worth noting that LCD monitors with LED backlighting are generally more energy-efficient than older LCD models with CCFL backlighting, reducing power consumption by 20-30%. So, if you're in the market for a new monitor, opting for an LED-backlit LCD model can further enhance your energy savings.

Adjust brightness settings

Adjusting the brightness settings on your LCD monitor is a simple yet effective way to save electricity. The power consumption of a monitor is influenced by its brightness, with a bright screen using more power than a dimmed one. This is especially true for monitors with high brightness levels, which are designed to be visible in both bright and dark rooms.

To adjust the brightness on your LCD monitor, you can usually access the settings through the main menu. For example, on some LG monitors, you can press the joystick button at the bottom centre of the product to open the main menu. From there, you can navigate to the "Settings" option and then select "Simple Settings" to adjust the brightness and contrast.

It's worth noting that the specific steps to adjust brightness settings may vary depending on the make and model of your LCD monitor. If you're unsure, refer to the user guide or manual for your specific model.

In addition to manual adjustments, some modern monitors have built-in sensors that automatically adjust the screen's brightness based on the ambient light in the room. For example, certain Philips monitors feature LightSensor technology, which adapts the brightness according to the lighting conditions, helping to reduce power consumption in darker environments.

By adjusting the brightness settings on your LCD monitor, you can strike a balance between visibility and energy efficiency, ultimately reducing your electricity usage and saving costs.

Use a separate switch for the monitor

One of the easiest ways to save electricity is to turn off your monitor when it's not in use. For desktop users, this is simple, as most monitors have a physical button that allows you to power down the screen separately from the computer tower. However, this feature is not as readily available on laptops.

If you want to ensure that you can turn off your monitor when it's not in use, you can purchase a separate switch for your monitor and computer. This will allow you to turn them off completely when you're not working, such as over the weekend, preventing standby consumption.

To do this, you can create a desktop shortcut that will allow you to turn off your monitor with a quick double-click. First, download a utility called NirCmd, which allows you to perform basic tasks without a visual interface. Once downloaded, create a new shortcut on your desktop and browse to the location you extracted NirCmd to. Put the location in quotation marks and add the command "cmdwait 1000 monitor off". Name the shortcut something like "Power Off Monitor" and you're good to go. You can then customise the shortcut further by right-clicking and accessing the Properties menu.

If you want to make it even easier, set a keyboard shortcut so that you can switch off your monitor at any time with a simple key combination.

Use a screensaver

Screensavers are a legacy feature from the days of cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitors, which were susceptible to "burn-in". This occurs when the same image is displayed for a long time, causing a permanent "ghost image" to remain on the screen even when the monitor is turned off.

Modern LCD monitors do not suffer from burn-in, as they do not use phosphors to produce images in the same way as CRTs. Therefore, screensavers are not necessary to prevent burn-in on LCD screens. In fact, using a screensaver can waste electricity, as the monitor remains on and continues to consume power.

However, there are still some valid reasons to use a screensaver on an LCD monitor:

Preventing Screenburn on OLED Displays

OLED technology, found on some smartphones and rare computer monitors, is susceptible to screenburn. Using a screensaver can help prevent this by ensuring that a single image isn't displayed for extended periods.

Reducing Power Consumption

While it may seem counterintuitive, using a screensaver can actually reduce power consumption in certain situations. For example, a black screensaver can use slightly less energy than a white screen on an LCD monitor, potentially saving a small amount of electricity.

Security

Screensavers can provide a basic layer of security by requiring a password to re-access the device after a period of inactivity. This helps prevent unauthorised access to your computer while you are away from your desk.

Background Tasks

Some screensavers can activate useful background tasks, such as a virus scan or volunteer computing applications. By utilising idle computer resources, these tasks can be completed without impacting your regular computing activities.

Entertainment and Customisation

Screensavers often feature moving images, patterns, and sound effects, providing entertainment and customisation options for users. While this may not directly save electricity, it demonstrates the continued popularity of screensavers for reasons beyond their original purpose.

In conclusion, while screensavers are not necessary for preventing burn-in on LCD monitors, they can serve other useful purposes. However, it is important to be aware that using a screensaver will generally consume more electricity than simply turning off the monitor or allowing it to enter a power-saving mode.

Choose a monitor with an energy-efficient label

When choosing a monitor, it is important to consider its energy efficiency. Energy-efficient monitors not only help reduce energy consumption and save money on energy bills but also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy labels are assigned to monitors based on their active energy consumption, calculated on a usage of 4 hours per day over 365 days. The most energy-efficient monitors are labelled with an A, followed by B and C, which are energy-efficient, and D, which is average. Monitors with an E, F, or G label are less energy-efficient than average.

In addition to the energy label, you can look for the EPEAT quality mark, which is given to monitors that meet certain criteria, including the use of harmful substances and energy efficiency. EPEAT has three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The Energy Star label is another quality mark that specifically assesses monitors based on their energy efficiency.

When purchasing a monitor, it is best to choose one that appears on both the ENERGY STAR qualified products list and the EPEAT registry. Some utilities even offer rebates or incentives for the purchase of ENERGY STAR-qualified products.

By choosing a monitor with an energy-efficient label, you can make an informed decision that not only benefits your wallet but also helps protect the environment.

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