Tune In: The Search for an Eco-Friendly TV

Okay, I am finally going to jump on the new flat-screen LCD TV bandwagon.

Why I'm Getting a New TV

I have had the same dinosaur television for 8 years, which I bought used from a friend when moving to my current place. I was waiting for the TV to die before I bought a replacement, but within the last year three things happened:

1. I received a Blu-ray player as a present that I have been unable to use because it is not compatible with the dinosaur television. 
2. More and more shows are being shot in wide-screen, which means that I am missing out on a lot of key plot points that get cut off on my current square screen. Though this doesn't really matter, in the grand scheme of things, it is quite annoying. 
3. The appeal of watching Netflix streaming through the TV without hooking up a computer has become almost impossible to ignore. 

Here's a picture of the old monster TV, courtesy of Photo Kitchen:

Things to Consider When Shopping for a New TV

So, I went searching for a new TV.  I thought about getting one during the after-Christmas sales in 2010, but the one that I had chosen was out of stock and I missed out on the deep holiday discounts, so I waited until this season to try again.

To choose a television, I relied heavily on the Westerville Library's online subscription to Consumer Reports. In addition to rating specific models and brands, they also provide a guide to tell you what types of things you should be looking for when buying a new TV.

The one thing that stood out to me was their explanation of LED backlighting for LCD TVs:

LCD displays use lights in the back of the display to illuminate the screen. These have typically been fluorescent bulbs, but many new sets use LED (light-emitting diode) backlights instead...In general, LEDs can reduce power consumption. Some of the edge-lit LCD models we've tested have been among the most energy-efficient sets we've seen...LED backlights, especially if edge-lit, can allow the TV to have a very slim profile -- panel thickness of well under 2 inches.

Consumer Reports also includes an estimated energy cost per year for rated TVs. Between that and the LED backlight option that offers more energy efficiency and a smaller physical footprint, I knew where to start looking in regard to picking out a new television that would be eco-friendly.

Of course, I also looked at the other rating options to make sure the TV would meet my other needs, such as sound quality, HD & SD picture quality, viewing angle, etc. I eliminated any set that gave only a fair or poor rating for any of the features. I also placed emphasis on Netflix integration. I was also interested in Internet-connectivity available on the new Google TVs, but this feature is cost-prohibitive at the moment and it doesn't seem like the capability has hit the mainstream yet.

Once I narrowed down my choices, I looked at the brand reliability table through Consumer Reports to find out how the brand measured up regarding repair history.

Lastly, I checked for user ratings & reviews on sites such as CNET and Amazon.com. This helped me to narrow my choices further.

Based on all of these factors, I have chosen the Vizio M420SV. It has LED edge backlighting, a wide viewing angle, excellent picture quality, good sound quality, average energy costs of $26 per year, good brand quality, an excellent average user rating on Amazon.com and it is Internet-enabled, allowing for the ability to connect to a Netflix streaming account.

Here's what the new TV will look like, according to Amazon.com:

How to Get Rid of an Old TV  

So, what should you do with an old dinosaur TV? Don't throw it the dumpster. Old televisions contain hazardous materials such as lead. To avoid the possibility of these materials leaching out, donate your old TV to the Ohio Thrift store at Cleveland Ave and 161 in the Columbus Square shopping center. They will accept any working television for free.

Or, if your TV is no longer in working condition, try recycling it. Ohio Drop Off near the intersection of Morse Road and Westerville Road will recycle TVs, though they charge $1 per inch.

More options are available within the Columbus area. Read this SWACO article or this EPA article for more recycling, donating or disposal options.


Stay Tuned

The TV is now set up. The Netflix integration is decadent. But did all of my hard research pay off? Stay tuned to find out.