With the increasing use of television, DVDs and playing video games, energy consumption has gone up dramatically. Due to the increasing pressures from both TV energy regulations and product labels from the EuP, California Energy Commission, Energy Guide, ENERGY STAR (News - Alert), and CNIS in China, the LCD TV supply chain continues to play an increasingly critical role in reducing power consumption in LCD TVs.
3M's Dual Brightness Reflective Polarizer (D3-340) technology enhances the efficiency of LCD TVs by recycling polarized light. The film allows manufacturers to eliminate light sources and reduce the power infrastructure, making the TVs more energy efficient without sacrificing display performance or picture quality at all viewing angles, unlike prismatic enhancement films. Thus, LCD TV energy consumption is slashed by up to 32 percent. The film requires fewer light sources, eliminates the diffuser sheet and reduces the overall bill of materials.
In a press release, Jim Bauman, vice president of 3M's (News - Alert) Optical Systems Division, said, "As more TV energy regulations around the globe are going into effect, it's becoming increasingly important to improve energy efficiency without compromising the viewing experience that consumers have become accustomed to.”
Bauman added, "Our DBEF products will continue to enable LCD TV manufacturers to develop new products that meet today's demand for improved energy efficient LCD TVs with unprecedented image quality, display brightness, wider viewing angles, all within a thinner form factor."
Norman L. Dean, president and executive director of TopTen USA, said, "TV manufacturers are constantly re-inventing their TV product offerings with new technology innovation. At the same time, energy efficiency in TVs remains a top priority. They now face the challenge of reducing power consumption in TVs, while upholding the high standards they have set for their products in terms of brightness and picture quality from all angles."
Recently, the European Commission finalized requirements for a consumer television labeling program, and manufacturers may begin to voluntarily label their products as soon as the legislation publishes (target 1Q 2011). This labeling directive program has been in place for household appliances for a number of years, and European consumers will now be able to differentiate TVs based on the amount of energy that they consume.
Similarly, the FTC (News - Alert) is also seeking the launch of Energy Guide labels for TVs in the U.S. in the middle of 2011. These labels will provide visibility of TV power consumption to consumers in a commonly understood format.
The EPA is already considering revisions to either the timing or requirements for ENERGY STAR 5.1 Televisions. Regional utility incentive programs in the U.S. are also tightening compliance thresholds below that of the currently published ENERGY STAR 5.1 requirements.
Recently, 3M announced that it will spend around $4 million to establish a technical center in Chongqing Municipality, Southwest China.
Sujata Garud is a TMCnet freelancer with three years of writing/editing experience and two years of market research experience. As an editor she has covered the IT, electronics, banking, pharma, construction, mining and healthcare industries. To see more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Tammy Wolf
