The more electronic equipment we have in our homes, the more electricity is used. The makers of TV equipment are working hard to bring down the energy consumption of TVs, boxes and recorders. The rest of us can follow some simple rules when buying and using TV equipment to help keep our energy consumption down.

Green tips for buying equipment

If you're buying new TV equipment, make sure it is digital. Buying a TV or recorder with digital built-in could save you buying a separate box that will use extra electricity at switchover.

Increasingly product packaging will display the digital tick logo in a scoreboard graphic. The scoreboard will highlight important features carried on particular models. It will always include the energy in standby level and where appropriate the Energy Saving measurement criteria. The scoreboard will come in vertical and horizontal formats, either in the standard digital UK colours, black and white or white on black.

When you're buying TV equipment, look for the most energy efficient products that have been awarded the Energy Saving Recommended logo

Larger screen TVs will use more energy, regardless of whether they are analogue or digital; plasma, LCD or CRT.

If you're thinking of getting a subscription TV service like cable or satellite, then these boxes sometimes need more energy than non-subscription (Freeview) boxes, but all of Sky's equipment meets the European Code of Conduct on Energy Efficiency, and many Sky boxes will now go into standby automatically if you're not using them, saving electricity.

Green tips for using your equipment

Whenever possible do not leave your TV equipment running unnecessarily.

Often TVs are left on when nobody is watching for long durations! Make sure you turn your TV  off completely, and remember to put your TV, box or recorder in standby by pressing the standby button on your remote control.

Unfortunately it is not practical to switch all TV equipment off completely. Your digital TV, box or recorder needs to be able to receive new information through the night, and needs to at least be on standby to record. Without it, your equipment might not work properly.

You should not disconnect your digital TV equipment if it is a subscription service (Sky, Virgin, BT Vision or Top-Up TV). Switching off recorders (including Sky+ and Freeview+) means they will not be able to record.

How to find energy efficient TV equipment

To find out the energy consumption of TV equipment on the market check you can search here.

Ricability, the independent research institute for consumer affairs, also offers information on products that have been tested for energy efficiency.

As well as finding out about the energy consumption of your TV equipment, make sure that whatever you are buying suits your needs. Some more sophsticated TV equipment with special features such as audio description may use more energy.