TVs

As televisions have become larger, homeowners have been eager to upgrade to the newer and bigger models. They enjoy the bigger pictures, but are often surprised that they come with bigger electric bills.

The standard TVs that have been a mainstay of American homes do not use a lot of power. A standard TV that is watched about four hours a day and that consumes about 120 watts, probably uses less than $20 of electricity per year. But rear-projection sets typically use two or three times as much power, and plasma sets may require as much as five times as much electricity. In addition, people who invest in new TVs tend to spend more time watching them, or having multiple sets throughout the house. All of those factors combine to create larger electric bills.

Today's larger TVs come in three primary types:

Rear-projection sets (also known as digital light processing TVs or DLPs) are the least expensive of the big-screen TVs, but they are also the largest. Typical sizes range from 42 to 65 inches, with larger models available.

LCD (liquid crystal diode) flat-panel TVs take up less space, and many models may even be wall-mounted. They're an excellent choice for bright rooms, because reflections create less of a problem than with other types of TVs.

Plasma TVs are excellent for people who primarily watch sports and action movies, because their technology allows for less blurring. However, their picture quality comes with a price, because plasma TVs use the most energy of the three types.