News

Sharp awarded energy-saving accreditation for LCD TV range (23/2/2006)

According to the Energy Saving Trust, approximately £740m* worth of energy is wasted every year due to electrical equipment being left on standby, or charging unnecessarily, in UK homes. As a result, the pressure is on consumer electronics manufacturers to ensure that excess consumption of electricity by household appliances is reduced as a major priority. Sharp Electronics is one organisation committed to incorporating these requirements into the core of its manufacturing processes.

This week, three models in Sharp's forthcoming 'P70 Series' LCD TV range** have been awarded the Energy Saving Trust's 'energy saving recommended endorsement' for their low energy consumption and contribution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions (CO2). Sharp is one of the first LCD TV manufacturers to receive this certification in the UK, and the Company's accredited models are now listed on the Energy Saving Trust's web site at: www.est.org.uk/recommended, which signposts consumers to the most energy efficient products on the market.

Certificates are only awarded to digital products that comply with the following requirements:

- Products that use less or equal to 1.5 watts of energy on standby
- Products that use less or equal to 250 watts in operation (or 'on' mode)

Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust said, "Our recent research reveals that over half of consumers plan to spend more on energy efficient products over the next 12 months and 80 per cent would like to be recommended more energy efficient products and services. So it's crucial that manufacturers respond by developing more energy efficient products - we are pleased to see Sharp taking up this challenge and would encourage other manufacturers to follow this lead."

Sharp forecasts that the UK market for LCD TVs will double by the end of this year and expects demand to approach three million units, from a total TV market size of six million per year. Most of these TVs will incorporate a 'Freeview' digital tuner, which can be very power-hungry in standby mode.

Gary Pearson, Sharp's head of product planning, said, "It is essential that this new generation of flat panel TVs are energy efficient, in addition to looking stylish in the home, and we urge customers to consider energy efficiency as part of their purchase decision."

On receiving the Energy Saving Trust accreditation, Pearson commented, "As an environmentally-conscious company, Sharp's aim is to contribute significantly towards lowering energy consumption and CO2 emissions, both in its manufacturing processes, through its Super-Green Factory Policy, and through the development of 'green' products that lower the burden on the environment. Receiving endorsement from the energy saving recommended scheme for our forthcoming P-Series models is another important step forward in our ongoing commitment to environmental preservation."

Energy wastage in the UK: the facts and figures*

- Stereos left on standby waste £290m worth of energy and 1.6m tonnes of CO2
- VCRs left on standby waste £175m worth of energy and 960,000 tonnes of CO2
- TVs left on standby waste £88m worth of energy and 480,000 tonnes of CO2
- Games consoles left on standby waste £70m worth of energy and 390,000 tonnes of CO2
- Mobile phone chargers unnecessarily left on charge waste £47m worth of energy and 250,000 tonnes of CO2
- Computer monitors left switched on waste £41m worth of energy and 220,000 tonnes of CO2
- DVD players left on standby waste £19m worth of energy and 100,000 tonnes of CO2
- Set top boxes left on standby waste £11m worth of energy and 60,000 tonnes of CO2

*Approximate figures supplied by the Energy Saving Trust

**The three EST-accredited Sharp models are:

- Sharp Aquos LC-37P70E
- Sharp Aquos LC-32P70E
- Sharp Aquos LC-26P70E

www.sharp.co.uk