Five easy changes to TV settings I tell people to make to cut their energy bill and usage in half

TELEVISIONS can keep the whole family entertained but they’re not the cheapest appliance to run.

UK adults spent on average four hours 28 minutes watching TV and video content each day in 2022, according to the regulator Ofcom.

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But leave your device on for too long and it could rack up your bills.

Of course, how much depends on the exact model although a less energy-efficient TV could cost twice as much.

Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch, told The Sun a TV using 36 kilowatts costs £9.85 to use for 1,000 hours.

Meanwhile, a less efficient unit using 73 kilowatts costs £19.97 to use for the same amount of time.

In the average household, the TV, DVD player and set-top box account for around 8% of your energy bill.

So although it’s not a large chunk of your bill, cutting costs is still worthwhile.

Here are five changes Ben said you can employ easily.

Switch off your TV

It might seem obvious, but fully turning your TV off will help you save money.

So try to get into the habit of flicking the switch off completely and not leaving it on standby, even if that might be the easier option.

Use the energy-saving mode

If it has one, turn your TV on to energy-saving mode.

What this means depends on each model, but it will usually dim the brightness and backlight.

It may also adjust the panel control to reduce your unit’s energy consumption.

Turn down the brightness

Even if your TV doesn’t come with an energy-saving mode, you can always turn down the brightness manually.

The factory settings are often brighter than necessary for most homes, and really bright screens are bad for your eyes anyway.

You can try switching your models ambient light sensor on too.

This adjusts the contrast of your picture depending on how dark the room is.

Unplug

Once you’ve turned the TV off, you might as well unplug it completely to save some extra cash.

You won’t cut costs dramatically, but every little helps and it will only take seconds.

TVs are one of the so-called “vampire” appliances”, so they’ll guzzle through your energy when still plugged in.

Choose wisely when buying a new TV

If you are thinking about buying a new TV, two quick changes can help you reduce your bill.

First, generally the smaller your TV screen, the less energy it will use.

Second, keep an eye out for an Energy Saving Trust’s recommended label.

These are stuck on devices with optimised energy-saving features.

How else to save money on energy bills

Getting savvy with your TV set is just one way to save money on energy bills.

Switching from old-style halogen to LED light bulbs will help you cut costs while closing curtains at night can help too, especially during winter.

Meanwhile, limiting the amount of time you keep your oven door open while in use will stop hot air from escaping and making the appliance less energy-efficient.

Next, try blocking draughts to trap heat inside your home and ditch the tumble dryer for a heated airer.

Making sure your dishwasher is full will maximise its efficiency too.

You can read more about 33 ways to save money on your energy bills in our guide.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk