EU to ban big plasma TVs

New EU legislation to be passed later this year will ban many power-hungry plasma televisions.

Giant flatscreen TV’s have been dubbed the ‘4×4s’ of the living room because they consume up to four times as much electricity as traditional CRT television sets.

The proposed legislation would mean that inefficient televisions would be phased out, and the rest labelled with energy ratings.

A Defra spokesperson confirmed that a ban on plasma TVs is likely, but added that the most eco-friendly sets will still be available.

LCD flatscreens are much more energy efficient than plasma versions, and so are unlikely to be restricted under the legislation.

A typical 42-inch plasma TV consumes 822 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, compared to 350kWh on an LCD model, and 322kWh on a 32-inch CRT TV.

Similar legislation is also being drawn up in California that will require retailers to sell only the most energy efficient televisions from 2011.

State regulators in California estimate that removing power-guzzling televisions in the state could save enough energy to power 86,000 homes.