A recent study by THX has revealed calibration to your HD TV can make a 50% improvement in power consumption.
THX Ltd shows that as well as improving picture quality, professional video calibration can reduce the on-mode energy consumption of high-definition TVs, making them more energy-efficient.
The THX study, which calibrated both plasma and LCD HDTV’s revealed that video calibration can improve energy efficiency by up to 50 percent, depending on the display’s technology platform, screen size and model year.
The study showed that a correctly calibrated viewing mode consumes less energy than Vivid and Dynamic modes, with consumer savings of between 15 and percent of the TV’s energy bill.
So if you are looking to save the equivalent of $40(£21) – $50(£31) per year, you need to calibrate your screen to THX standards.
THX engineers evaluated more than 15 plasma and LCD models, comparing Vivid or Dynamic Modes with professionally calibrated settings. Vivid and Dynamic modes are typically designed by display manufacturers to demonstrate the capabilities of an HD TV on the retail floor, and boost contrast and colour levels to compensate for overpowering retail environment lighting. Such modes, which are often default setting, can significantly increase energy consumption.
“Newer HDTV models are using less energy than ever before as a result of advances in panel manufacturing,” says John Dahl, director of education at THX. “While the U.S. Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR standard is driving manufacturers to reduce on-mode energy consumption, both new and older plasma and LCD HDTVs will experience additional energy savings as a result of professional video calibration.”
John Dahl In Video
The primary benefit of professional video calibration is to improve the display’s picture quality. While professional calibration is performed post-sale, THX Certified displays from Panasonic, LG and JVC feature THX Movie Mode, a pre-calibrated setting that achieves studio colour, deep black levels and energy efficiencies out-of-the box. This setting may also be tuned by a professional calibrator to further improve picture quality and energy consumption. For non-THX Certified Displays, the research demonstrates professional calibration can improve energy efficiency by optimising the picture controls.