Efficiency Atop Efficiency for LCD Computer Displays

October 25, 2009 – Vol.14 No.32

EFFICIENCY ATOP EFFICIENCY FOR LCD COMPUTER DISPLAYS.
by Bruce Mulliken, Green Energy News

One of the most successful adoptions of energy efficient technologies is, most likely, right in front of your nose. You’re probably looking at it right now, the flat screen, LCD display on your desk or in your laptop computer. (If you’re still looking at an old CRT (cathode ray tube) monitor, sorry. You’ll love the LCD (liquid crystal display) when you make the switch.)

The energy consumption of an LCD can be half to two-thirds that of an old CRT of the same size. That’s a significant energy savings though probably wasn’t the only reason people have made the switch. For some, a laptop computer is their only computer and laptops wouldn’t be possible without thin, flat, low-energy consuming displays. But, as soon as freestanding LCD displays dropped in price the technology began to flood the desks of the world and for good reason. They’re flicker-free, thus easier on the eyes. They’re light in weight and easy to transport and they don’t take up much desk space. And they keep getting bigger, offering computer desktop workspace never possible with CRTs. ( I have two 24 inchers in front of me as I write this. I like to spread my documents out.)

Generally, it’s safe the say the overall experience, thus the market success, of LCD displays has been great, with only an issue or two.

Now the LCD experience is getting even better with the introduction of LED (light emitting diode) backlit displays. While it probably takes a discerning eye to see the visual difference between conventional LCD displays and those with LED backlighting, other features should attract a whole new set of users.

First and foremost the new LED backlit displays use even less electricity than the older LCD technology, something on the order of 50 percent less. That’s another huge leap in energy savings, which in a big firm with lots of computers could mean a noticeable cut in the company electric bill.

At its end of life the LED backlit display should be easy to recycle. Conventional LCD displays use fluorescent tubes to back light the display. At recycling time those tubes and the mercury within them have to be dealt with. LEDs have no mercury, so displays using the technology won’t have that issue.

Then there’s end of life in general. I have no idea of how long conventional fluorescent backlit LCD displays are expected to last. However, LED lights are expected to last for what, a decade or more? In a computer display that would translate into a very long life.

Computer and display companies are quickly latching on to the LED backlit technology. Apple has had an LED backlit display for a while and has just introduced a new generation of all-in-one iMacs that incorporate the technology. Apple has also added to its newly found environmental awareness by building the iMacs (as well as all most all of its products) with recyclable aluminum and glass.

Lenovo has taken another energy and environmental road with the launch of five new ThinkVision monitors. The LED backlit displays use half the energy of conventional LCD displays. A 22 inch model consumes only 21 watts of power in full operation, compared with 49 watts for the average in its class. The same 22 inch model has an ambient light and proximity sensor to turn the screen off when a user steps away, helping to save up to an additional 10 percent of power consumption a year. The company says if the monitor industry was standardized on white LED backlit technology, a total of nearly 30 million tons of CO2 could potentially be avoided by 2013.

The new Lenovo displays have already been through one end of life. In the flagship L2251x Wide chassis parts are made of 65 percent post consumer recycled plastics with no virgin plastics. The new monitor is shipped in more than 90 percent recycled packaging, and Lenovo is including a reusable protective bag as part of the packaging to further reduce plastics use. (Full disclosure: Lenovo sent me one of the bags. It didn’t entice me to write this story. I don’t work that cheap.)

All the new Lenovo monitors are TCO Certified, EPEAT Gold Rated and exceed the U.S Department of Energy/ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star 5.0 criteria.

The adoption of LED backlighting is also spreading to the flat screen television industry with similar energy savings. In that industry the huge plasma TV sets have been the energy hogs.

LCD monitors have proven that energy savings doesn’t have to mean suffering or sacrifice. In fact, compared with the old CRT technology the greener technology is the superior one. Now LED backlit technology will bring LCDs to an even higher level.

Links:

Apple
http://www.apple.com

Lenovo
http://www.lenovo.com

TCO Certified
http://www.tcodevelopment.com

EPEAT
http://www.epeat.net

Energy Star
http://www.energystar.gov