The HD and flat-panel television buying trend has frequently been coupled with environmental blurbs. Consumers looking for a reason to upgrade their television sets are told that flat televisions use less electricity than their big-tube counterparts. In other words, “Be green! Go buy an HDTV!”

Here are some reasons to ignore the hype:

1. Reusing is Always Greener: It is rarely better for the environment to throw away something you are using and buy a new one. Chances are, your new HDTV must be transported half-way around the world. It consumed massive resources being produced, marketed, and delivered to your living room. Every year that you “make do” with your existing television is another year of solid green karma, no matter how wonderful and energy efficient your new television might be.
2. The Energy Argument Isn’t Clear: Does your new flat television really use less energy than your old tube? If you’re looking at a lower-cost plasma screen, you may not see any improvement in energy consumption. LCDs are better, but not by much. We may need to wait for new LED technology before we really start to benefit from the reduced energy needs of modern televisions. As with anything, your results may vary; you should consider the wattage consumption on your future television before purchasing. One 65-inch Sharp LCD uses 583 watts during operation and 76 watts while turned off! (link)
3. Recent Gas News: A gas used in making flat televisions may be contributing to global warming (link). Nitrogen Trifluoride has been in the news a lot lately. The gas is used in the manfacturing of LCD televisions. It is apparently 17,000 times as harmful to the environment as carbon dioxide, and it is not regulated by the Kyoto protocols. This is breaking news and details may shift in the coming months, but you should keep an eye on the issue if a television purchase is in your near future.
4. Flat Television Lifespan Still Uncertain: Finally, remember the old saw: they don’t make them like they used to. When we first got married, my wife and I inherited an ancient television from her uncle. It was already at least fifteen years old, perhaps older, and it worked fine. We used it for the first four years of our marriage before deciding we wanted an upgrade. It still worked wonderfully. Will flat panel televisions still be chugging along twenty years after they were manufactured? No one knows, obviously. Plasma and LCD screens have an awesome theoretical lifespan, but the supporting technology and the television itself may be less robust than your old tube. Remember that products with a longer lifespan, if manufactured sensibly, are always greener than products that require replacement every few years.

Even with all the above reasons, you may choose to purchase a new television set. Awareness doesn’t mean we should agonize over every life decision or purchase. If you are going to purchase a television, however, keep the above tips in mind. And take your time: Law and Order is just as gritty and moody on your old tube, and the American Idol singers won’t be any more in-tune in High Definition.