Televsions featuring an Energy Star seal of approval will be facing stricter guidelines later this year.

On November 1, any TVs with the Energy Star label must be up to 30 per cent more efficient than a regular set and will be required to save energy whether they are on or in stand-by mode.

"Energy Star's new specifications for televisions are turning the channel on energy guzzling sets – making them go the way of rabbit-ears and the black and white TV," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.

If all televsions in the U.S. - including the projected 36 million sets that will be purchased by Americans this year - follow Energy Star guidelines, EPA figured greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced to the equivalent of reducing the effects of one million cars on the road, as well as saving approximately $1 billion each year in energy costs.

Wow, a savings equal to that of taking one millions cars of the road. That's pretty substantial. Conveniently Matsushita, maker of all great things Panasonic, recently announced a new plasma television expected to use half as much power as current models available on the market, set to be released next year.

» Environmental Protection Agency