Pioneer, Hitachi and Panasonic Plasmas Energy Star Certified

The Plasma Display Coalition (PDC) has announced that new plasma televisions from Hitachi, LG Electronics, Panasonic and Pioneer have been certified to meet new Energy Star rating requirements.

A total of 43 models were placed on the EPA's list of qualifying high-defintion television (HDTV) sets.

In November, the EPA announced tighter Energy Star standards that, in order to qualify for the new "on mode" criteria, a 42-inch plasma can't consume more than 208 watts.

The certification also stipulates that when televisions are in "standby mode" they can't use more than a single watt of energy.

The Plasma Display Coalition points out that these new energy efficient ratings are another reason for consumers to replace their older televisions.

"While wildly popular in the 1990s, most 36-inch CRT [cathode ray tube] televisions and larger tube-based projection TV sets typically consume at least 250 watts of energy, if not more. New models offer consumers bigger screen sizes with superior high-definition viewing that are dramatically more efficient than older sets with traditional tubes," says Jim Palumbo, president of the Plasma Display Coalition.

"You can actually save energy and money by investing in a new energy efficient Plasma HDTV. For example, if you replace your 36-inch tube TV that's using 250 watts with a larger and most efficient 42-inch 720p Plasma HDTV that is Energy Star rated, you can cut your TV power consumption by more than 35 percent."

According to the EPA, if all televisions sold in the U.S. met the new Energy Star requirements, energy cost savings would grow to about $1 billion annually.