WRT (With Respect To) Technology

Phillip Wright of WRT Associates recently gave a presentation entitled “Realizing Energy Savings from Lower Power Televisions” and contributed to a panel discussion on “Key Trends Driving Future Product Development” at the DisplaySearch TV Ecosystems Conference in San Jose, CA.  WRT Associates and Livingston Energy Innovations are currently collaborating to draft and make available a white paper on the same topic in the very near future.  For an early look at some of the main points of the white paper take a look at Realizing Energy Savings from Lower Power TVs.

In his talk, Dr. Wright outlined the potential for energy savings enabled by the lower power consumption televisions that are now coming to market with features including LED backlights, ambient light and user presence detectors, and “smart” power management features.  The presentation on energy saving televisions reported on today’s energy consumption status and proposed a product, technology and policy roadmap showing where we are today, where we are going, and how we can come to realize significant energy savings from televisions.

In addition to reporting how TVs fit in the consumer electronics “big picture,” Dr. Wright cautioned that the current trend to Screen Convergence – users increasingly viewing larger screens and simultaneously watching multiple displays for longer periods at work and at home – could drive increased energy consumption even with the trend to lower power consumption sets.  The roles played by upcoming Energy Star 4.0 and 5.0 TV specifications for voluntary Energy Star labeling, and the efforts of the California Energy Commission (CEC) to enact mandatory power consumption requirements for TVs will also play a part in the Television Energy Savings Roadmap.  Take a look at the proposed road map and let us know your opinions on the future directions to be taken by television technologies, products and policies.