That new big screen television lets you see every play clearly. However, you may see something else: a rise in your electrical use.

Consumer Reports magazine estimates that 36-inch and larger televisions can use as much power in a year as newer energy-efficient refrigerators, based on the average U.S. viewing time of eight hours a day. The bigger the screen, the more energy it uses. Plasma screens generally use more electricity than the same size LCD screens. A 50-inch high-definition plasma set may use twice the energy of a refrigerator in a year.

More stringent ENERGY STAR® specifications for televisions will go into effect in November. Televisions meeting the new guidelines will be up to 30 percent more efficient. Also, ENERGY STAR qualified digital-to-analog converter boxes will be available for sale in late 2008.