Households facing higher energy bills this winter can cut consumption by switching on a simple TV setting. The Ofgem price cap for a typical household paying by direct debit stands at £1,723 annually, but energy analysts at Cornwall Insight forecast it could climb to £1,999 in January.
The Government introduced a VAT reduction on electricity bills, yet the cap still rose due to elevated wholesale costs fuelled by the conflict in the Middle East. Reducing energy use where possible has become essential for many households.
How to Reduce TV Energy Consumption
Money Saving Expert suggests making a small tweak to televisions. The average cost of running a TV per hour is 0.79p, a Sky Q box costs 1.18p, and a PlayStation 5 costs 5p. UK households spend about four hours daily watching television.
Most TVs feature power-saving settings that adjust screen brightness to cut power consumption. Selecting this option reduces the TV's energy use. If your TV lacks that feature, manually adjust the brightness and contrast. Switching the picture mode to 'standard' is the most energy-efficient option.
Some TVs include a sleep timer that automatically switches off after a period of inactivity, and this should be enabled.
Adjusting TV Boxes and Standby Mode
TV boxes can also be modified to save energy, with many offering an eco mode. Sky Q boxes power down between 2:30am and 5:45am in eco mode, and Virgin and BT provide similar functions. Search for 'eco' or 'power saving' options.
Switching devices off rather than leaving them on standby is best. The Energy Saving Trust says households could save £45 annually by turning devices off standby. However, devices consume less energy in standby than when actively used. Under EU regulations, TVs and appliances made after 2013 cannot use more than 0.5 watts in standby mode.
Money Saving Expert noted that a TV left on standby for 20 hours a day would cost about £1 a year, and even power-hungry devices like games consoles use small amounts of energy on standby. A PlayStation 5 uses just 0.4 watts in standby mode, costing less than a penny if left on all day.
