Retailers pledge to sell 'greener' TVs

Some of the UK's leading electrical retailers have committed to reducing energy waste by only selling 'greener' TVs in the future.

Eight leading retailers - Best Buy UK, Comet, Co-operative Electrical, DSGi (Currys and PC World), John Lewis Partnership, Home Retail Group (Argos), Marks & Spencer, and Sainsbury’s - have voluntarily joined a new scheme launched by the Energy Saving Trust and Defra to remove the least energy efficient TVs from their stock, and educate shoppers about the benefit of buying a more energy efficient TV.

The commitment means that all televisions sold by these companies will meet new minimum efficiency standards at least a year in advance of the EU introducing these regulations for all retailers in July 2012. The Energy Saving Trust is working with industry to encourage other retailers to follow suit and voluntarily sign-up to join the initiative.

Commenting on the launch, Environment Minister Dan Norris said:

“I’m pleased that so many of our leading electrical stores have made this commitment to remove the least energy efficient TVs from their shelves.

"There is more work to be done to further improve the energy efficiency of these products but, with a World Cup around the corner when we know some people will be thinking of buying a new TV, it’s great for them to know that the models sold by these retailers will save them money on their energy bills and help the environment.”

The worst performing 42" televisions can cost around £75 a year to run; an equivalent sized energy efficient (Energy Saving Recommended accredited) TV could reduce this cost to only £33. Customers choosing to buy a ‘greener’ TV could shave around £340 off their electricity bills over the lifetime of the TV and over a tonne of carbon dioxide.

You can find out more about how to save energy and money around the home by visiting the Energy Saving Trust website.

26 March 2010