Plasma TVs have been a popular choice for households since their inception. With amazing picture quality, vibrant colors, and crystal-clear sound, Plasma TVs have made their way into almost every living room. However, along with its popularity, there comes a cost. Plasma TVs are known for their energy consumption, which adds up to the electricity bill. In this article, we will explore the energy consumption and costs of using a 42-inch Plasma TV, and discover ways to save money while using this appliance.
How To Use This Calculator
Using this energy calculator is a simple and will help you determine the costs of running your appliance. Click on ‘Calculate’ to use the predefined values, or enter your daily usage in hours, appliance watts, and your current energy costs in dollars. The calculator will provide you with the daily, monthly, and yearly results. It’s important to ensure the accuracy of the information entered to get the most accurate results.
Hours Used Per Day
Enter the number of hours you estimate the appliance will be on throughout the day. To use fractions of an hour please use a decimal point in the form.
For example: 1 hour and 30 mintes would be 1.5, and 3 hours and 15 minutes would be 3.25
Power Used in Watts
The calculator already includes a default average wattage. If your appliance uses a different wattage then enter it in the calculator.
Your Energy Rate in kWh
The calculator includes an average energy rate (price in $/kWh) to use for the calculation. This may not be the exact price that you’re currently paying for electricity. If you know your energy rate please enter your price per kilowatt-hour.
Energy Consumption
A 42-inch Plasma TV uses 450 watts of energy. Energy consumption is the rate at which an appliance consumes energy. We can calculate the energy consumption of a device by multiplying the power consumption (in watts) by the operating time (in hours). In the case of a Plasma TV, if we use it for five hours a day, the energy consumption would be:
Energy consumption = Power consumption * Operating time
Energy consumption = 450 watts * 5 hours = 2250 watt-hours or 2.25 kilowatt-hours (kWh)
This means that if we use a 42-inch Plasma TV for five hours a day, we consume 2.25 kWh of electricity.
Importance and Relevance
The importance of knowing the energy consumption of any appliance lies in the fact that it helps us understand how much money we are spending on electricity bills. Moreover, it also helps us evaluate the impact of our energy consumption on the environment. As energy prices continue to rise, it becomes increasingly important to find ways to reduce our energy consumption.
Cost in Dollars of Energy Usage
The cost of electricity varies depending on the location, but the average cost in the United States is $0.12 per kWh. Using this price, we can calculate the daily, monthly, and yearly cost of using a 42-inch Plasma TV. The formula for calculating the cost of using an appliance is:
Cost = Energy Consumption * Energy Price
Daily Cost: 2.25 kWh * $0.12/kWh = $0.27 per day
Monthly Cost: $0.27 * 30 days = $8.10 per month
Yearly Cost: $8.10 * 12 months = $97.20 per year
This means that if we use a 42-inch Plasma TV for five hours a day, we spend around $97.20 per year on electricity bills.
Money Saving Tips
- Turn off the TV when not in use. Even if the TV is on standby mode, it is still consuming energy. Turning off the TV completely can save up to $20 a year.
- Adjust the brightness and contrast of the TV. Reducing the brightness and contrast can reduce energy consumption by up to 30%.
- Use an energy-efficient power strip. A power strip with a timer can help to turn off the TV automatically when not in use, saving up to $10 a year.
- Use energy-saving modes. Many Plasma TVs come with energy-saving modes that can help reduce energy consumption. Switching to these modes can save up to $15 a year.
- Upgrade to a new TV. Newer models of Plasma TVs are designed to consume less energy than older models. Upgrading to a newer model can save up to $40 a year.
In conclusion, Plasma TVs are great appliances, but their energy consumption can add up to the electricity bills. Knowing the energy consumption and costs of using a 42-inch Plasma TV can help us find ways to reduce our energy consumption and save money. By following the money-saving tips mentioned above, we can make smarter choices and reduce our impact on the environment.
