According to the report, smart TVs consume a very limited amount of energy while in standby mode, or what is known as ghost energy consumption, that is, the electricity that the device draws while it is plugged in, even when it is turned off. He explained that some modern models use this mode to display images or artwork on the screen, as in TVs such as Samsung The Frame.
The report indicated that if the user is very keen to reduce electricity consumption, he can simply cancel the standby mode from the settings, without the need to completely disconnect the device from electricity. This option is usually found under menus such as System, Power and Energy, or under Advanced Settings, depending on the type of TV.
The website noted that electricity consumption in standby mode remains very low. For example, a 55-inch LG G5 OLED TV consumes less than 0.5 watts in this mode, which means that the annual financial savings resulting from turning it off may remain very limited, and in the report’s opinion does not justify the hassle of repeatedly disconnecting and reconnecting the device.
On the other hand, the report warned that disconnecting the TV from the electricity may lead to resetting some functions, such as the internal clock or connection to the network, and may also prevent the arrival of software updates that sometimes run in the background.
He explained that those who really want to reduce their electricity bill will benefit more from disconnecting other devices that consume relatively more ghost energy, such as phone chargers, computer screens, laptops, coffee machines, electric toaster, and even some electrical strips.
The report concluded that disconnecting the smart TV from electricity may only be useful in specific cases, such as traveling for a long period or fear of a sudden increase in electrical current, but in normal daily use, it does not seem necessary, because the standby mode in modern devices was originally designed to consume a very small amount of energy.
