Want a 'Green' TV? Just Ask Forbes Which One's for You

As much as I try to make behavioral changes in and out of my home to be more environmentally friendly, I still come home every night after work, sit down and put on my 65 inch television and mentally check out.

While I stand firm that I do not think our television needed to be 65 inches – I know, ridiculous – I also don’t complain when I am watching an action movie with the surround sound and Blue Ray quality.

So, how is that for a hypocrite? I try to be green, but I have one of the largest TV’s that could potentially fit in a home and, not to mention, few devices are as harmful to the environment and your utility bill as a big-screen TV.

Despite the evolution of moving from CRT TV’s to flat panels, which did eliminate some power consumption, albeit, not enough, there is still more that needs to be done to ensure the most efficient use of energy within the TV market.

However, according to Forbes, there are televisions focused on energy-savings, but the trick lies in figuring out which is truly a power-conscious model. Alas, with a few models suggested by Forbes, individuals looking to find a more environmentally friendly – aka mercury free and recyclable – system, there are hope for those out there who don’t was a 65 inch TV clogging up their power lines.

According to Forbes, these models use LCD technology with LED backlighting, which are more efficient than incandescent-style bulbs:

• Sony Bravia KDL-EX700: a sensor can turn off the picture while leaving the audio on if you just want to listen in from the kitchen.
• Sharp LC-LE700UN: uses less power than any other TV of its size on the market, at an average cost of less than $14 a year.
• Samsung (News - Alert) UNB8500: dims LEDs behind the darker sections of the screen when they aren't in use, saving energy but maintaining image quality.