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73/10 The least energy efficient TVs will be taken off the shelves of some of the UK’s leading electrical retailers as part of a new commitment to reduce energy waste. Eight leading retailers - Best Buy UK, Comet, Co-operative Electrical, DSGi (Currys and PC World), John Lewis Partnership, Home Retail Group (Argos), Marks & Spencer, and Sainsbury’s - have voluntarily joined a new scheme launched by the Energy Saving Trust and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to remove the least energy efficient TVs from their stock, and educate shoppers about the benefit of buying an energy efficient TV.

The commitment means that all televisions sold by these companies will meet new minimum efficiency standards at least a year in advance of the EU introducing these regulations for all retailers in July 2012. The Energy Saving Trust is working with industry to encourage other retailers to follow suit and voluntarily sign-up to join the initiative.

Commenting on the launch of the initiative, Environment Minister Dan Norris MP said:

“I’m pleased that so many of our leading electrical stores have made this commitment to remove the least energy efficient TVs from their shelves. There is more work to be done to further improve the energy efficiency of these products but, with a World Cup around the corner when we know some people will be thinking of buying a new TV, it’s great for them to know that the models sold by these retailers will save them money on their energy bills and help the environment.”

Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust added:

“We are delighted to see such commitment from the UK retailers. Their decision to prioritise best performing TV in their stock will help shoppers make a real impact to reduce their household carbon emissions and save cash. We urge people to shop wisely when deciding on their new television. This World Cup, each football fan buying a new Energy Saving Recommended 42” LCD TV instead of the worst performing model could save around £42per year off their electricity bills – that’s enough cash to buy themselves the brand new England away shirt and a celebratory (or consolatory!) pint down the pub.”

The worst performing 42" televisions on the shelf today can cost around £75 a year to run whereas an equivalent sized energy efficient (Energy Saving Recommended accredited) TV would cost only £33 a year to run. That means customers choosing to buy an Energy Saving Recommended television over a poor performer could shave around £340 off their electricity bills over the lifetime1 of the TV (and over a tonne of carbon dioxide).

The opportunity for consumers to make a difference to their household carbon emissions (and pockets) is vast, particularly if the TV is on more hours than average, for example during the World Cup event.

The number of TVs sold in the UK is on the increase. In the three months in the run up to the last World Cup in 2006, collectively the UK's electrical retailers sold 1.4m television sets, however The Energy Saving Trust predicts that this figure will be 1.6m before this year’s World Cup finals. With this in mind, starting this spring, the eight committed retailers who together hold a share of over 50% of the TV market, will work hard to support the Voluntary Retailer Initiative for televisions, to promote their range of ‘best in class’ TV ranges.

Notes for editors

· Approximately 10m televisions (LCD & Plasma) were sold during 2009 in the UK.

· 7.5% of the average domestic electricity bill is spent on powering TVs.

· It is estimated that there are over 65m televisions in the UK. That is around 4m more TVs than people!

· A typical UK household has two TV sets (a 32inch and a 22inch). Combined use of both TV's in the average house is 7.5 hours per day - totalling 114 days of TV watching a year

· An average home’s 32” inch TV costs more to run then a fridge-freezer.

· A typical television costs £46 per annum to power (ie based on 32 inch 0.8 energy efficiency index rating, 6.5 hours on and 10.5 hours on standby) whilst a typical fridge freezer costs £42 per annum, even though it is on all of the time (ie A-rated fridge freezer bought new in 2008)

TABLE 1: Potential savings for shoppers buying televisionsAnnual running costs by screen size 15” 19” 22” 26” 32” 37” 42” 47”Energy Saving Trust Recommended TVs £7 £9 £12 £15 £21 £27 £33 £41Least efficient models on market £16 £21 £26 £33 £46 £60 £69 £93Saving when upgrading from least efficient to Energy Saving Trust Recommended TVsAnnual saving £9 £12 £14 £18 £25 £33 £36 £52Lifetime saving (8 years) £72 £96 £112 £144 £200 £264 £288 £416Annual running cost (£) based on 4.8 hours on mode viewing per day, at 12.96p/kWh. If the TV was left on standby for the rest of the day it would cost an extra £1 a year, if less than 1W.

About the Energy Saving Trust

The Energy Saving Trust is the UK's leading organisation set up to try and prevent climate change by helping everybody to cut carbon dioxide emissions – the main greenhouse gas causing climate change – from their homes and transport. We promote the efficient use of energy and a low carbon lifestyle.

Through its network of advice centres, the organisation provides free and impartial advice to consumers on saving energy, domestic renewables and greener transport, and is beginning to include water saving and waste reduction advice in its remit. It also works with retailers, builders and industry to make sure that energy efficient products are available for people to choose.

· Call a local Energy Saving Trust advice centre on: 0800 512 012 or visit: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

· More about the Energy Saving Trust’s key achievements: www.energysavingtrust.org.u k/corporate

· See: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/esr< /a> for information about the Energy Saving Recommended scheme

· For media information contact the Energy Saving Trust press office on 020 7227 0398