Plasma TV vs LCD TV

Samsung 42” Class 720p Flat-Panel Plasma TV = $899.99

LG 42” 720p Flat-Panel LCD TV = $899.99

Plasma TVs are known to have a slightly sharper and more detailed picture than LCD varieties, and edge out as the winner for viewing from an angle (how far to the side you can watch before picture will be distorted). The main reason, however, that plasmas enjoyed a long period as the best choice for big screens is that their high contrast ratios held up to even giant proportions (while their prices didn’t balloon the way LCD screens tended to). Because plasmas can achieve a blacker black to their pictures, the image won’t look washed out or gray the way it sometimes will on an LCD. On the energy front, the Samsung 42” plasma used for this comparison has received Energy Star ratings, which means it uses about 30% less energy than a non-Energy Star counterpart.

LCD TVs tend to have screen lives of 60,000 hours or more (compared to a range of 30,000 to 60,000 for plasma screens) and in the world of green the longer something lasts, the better it is for the environment. LCDs also tend to weigh less and be slightly thinner than plasma screens, which is usually part of the in-store appeal that pulls buyers away from plasmas. Better yet, on the whole LCDs use less energy than plasma TVs.

The environmental con to plasma TVs is a huge one: Although some models do use less energy than older TVs, some big plasma sets consume up to four times as much power as energy-hungry CRTs do—and result in four times the carbon emissions. In fact, Britain is now working toward banning some big-screen plasma TVs, which they view as one of the worst energy-consumption culprits in modern homes. The State of California is also proposing similar action, although the resulting ban would remove both certain large plasma TVs and certain large LCD TVs. While the 42” plasma we’ve used for this Face-Off is not going to be such an energy drain (especially with its Energy Star rating), if you’re looking to purchase a very large set—maybe in the 50”-60” range—you could be making considerable daily contributions to our climate crisis and upping your electricity bill at an alarming rate.

Although LCD TVs are long-lasting and lighter impact when it comes to power, they’re not a perfect solution; the largest LCDs can be just as bad as their plasma counterparts. But the worst of the LCD problems are components in the sets, specifically mercury and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). We don’t need to remind you of the dangers of the toxic pollutant that is mercury, but you may be wondering what NF3 is and why it’s a big deal. Well, it was created to eliminate the use of ozone-damaging perfluorocarbons and turned out to be 17,200 times worse for the climate than carbon dioxide itself (talk about solving one problem with a much bigger one). And NF3 is a key part of creating an LCD; in fact, because of the more widespread use of NF3, we added 600 metric tons of it to the atmosphere in 2008—the equivalent of 2,064,000 car emissions for a year.

If you’re looking for a—literal--big picture you might be interested in a plasma TV because of its contrast ratio and (sometimes) lower price. But because of the energy consumption of such a large set, we have to advise you to look to LCDs and consider a potentially higher price tag an investment in the environment (and a smaller monthly energy bill). If you’re going to purchase one of the smaller plasma sets, remember to ask about the average lifespan of the set you have in mind and to prolong its longevity by avoiding leaving a set image on the screen for long periods, which could result in burn-in (for tips on energy-efficient viewing, check out the Greenzer Guide to televisions on our partner MSN Green).

Here’s what it comes down to: TVs aren’t great for the environment. The best you can do is to select a set with minimal impact. Even though LCD TVs require some creepy components in their creation their long life and lower energy consumptions makes them a good choice for eco-aware viewing…but you’ll have to do your part, too. Also, consider the environmental record of the company you’re buying from by checking the Greenzer Score of products which incorporates data from Climate Counts, Energy Star and Greenpeace’s Guide to Greener Electronics. Go for the smallest screen you can be satisfied with (better for the earth and budget) and don’t get carried away (you don’t need to affix one onto every wall that’s open).