Shop for energy-efficient TVs

If you're planning on buying a TV before the U.S. switches to digital-only broadcasts in June, now might be a good time to start looking around for deals.  

But, first, you should know that your analog television can still work. If you don't have cable or satellite service, you'll need to buy a digital-to-analog (DTA) converter box. At about $40 to $70, a DTA is a lot less pricey than a new TV, especially when you take into account the $40 federal rebate available for energy-efficient versions.    

For those who are shopping for a new digital TV, there are many factors to consider such as technology and size, but don't forget about energy efficiency. You'll not only save money and energy, but you'll also prevent pollution. In the U.S., 275 million televisions are in use, accounting for about 4 percent of all households' electricity use. That may not seem like much, but it all adds up, especially when you consider that the number of TVs we use is growing. By 2010, the Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that there will be more TVs than people in the US.

Shopping guidelines for those who want to take energy efficiency into account:    

• LCDs on the market today typically use significantly less power than a similar sized plasma screen. In some cases, a plasma TV uses two or more times more power than the same size LCD, says the NRDC. Size also matters. Larger TVs (of the same type) typically consume more power than smaller units.

• Choose Energy Star, but do your homework before you go shopping. More stringent requirements just went into effect. They now take into account how much power is consumed in both active and standby modes (instead of just standby). Models meeting the new specifications use about 30% less energy than non-qualified models. However, some of the TVs with the Energy Star stamp of approval that you see at the store right now may have been on the market before the new rules applied. Visit Energy Star's website to search for televisions that meet the new guidelines.

• The NRDC suggests looking for digital cable ready (DCR) TVs with a point of deployment (POD) slot. Simply slip in a card from your local cable company and eliminate the need for a power-hungry cable box.

When you get home:

• A forced set-up menu should appear the first time you turn on your new television. The NRDC recommends that you select the "home" mode because the "retail" or "vivid" mode uses 10 to 30 percent more power. You can also reduce the brightness setting of televisions that you already own. While you're at it, find the energy and power saving modes and turn them on as well.

Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping.