Reducing Power Consumption of BRAVIA™ LCD Televisions
BRAVIA™ KDL-32E1, released in July 2008, features Sony's proprietary backlight system, which delivers outstanding light-emitting efficiency, and an optical filter with superb light transmissivity, earning it an energy-efficiency achievement rate*1 of 232% well in excess of the standard for the five-star rating under Japan's Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy of 164%. In September 2008, the BRAVIA KDL-32E1 earned the judges' choice special Green IT Award 2008.
The BRAVIA™ V5 series, released in February 2009 in Japan, is the first in the world to employ a micro-tubular hot cathode fluorescent lamp (HCFL) backlight and uses 40% less energy than its similar 2008 models. Equipped with a "Presence Sensor" that automatically switches off the picture when no one is present, these models offer an easy way to reduce energy usage. Sony has also released the BRAVIA™ VE5 and WE5 series with the same functions in worldwide markets.
Of the 12 new BRAVIA™ models available in Japan, the model with the greatest energy efficiency has an energy-efficiency achievement rate*1 of 263%, of the standard set forth under Japan's Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy, while all 12 models carried a five-star rating under the same energy-efficiency achievement rating system.
Sony is proactively bringing its televisions sold in the United States into compliance with the standard of the International Energy Star Program. All models of television released in the United States during 2008 and 2009*2 meet the requirements of the International Energy Star Program (version 3.0) and 78% of them exceed the standard by 15% or more. Furthermore, the VE5 series (KDL-2VE5/46VE5/40VE5) exceeds the standard by 50% or more.
Sony also seeks to obtain the "flower" EU Ecolabel, under a program sponsored by the European Commission, for the televisions it sells in Europe. The EU Ecolabel requires manufacturers to satisfy certain standards, including a take-back policy for recycling after use, reduced energy consumption during use and in standby mode, and limited use of harmful substances. Sony Europe, which markets televisions in a range of sizes and with various features to consumers all over Europe, has been awarded the EU Ecolabel for 36 BRAVIA models.
*Models awarded the EU Ecolabel as of June 2009: Z55/57 (40", 46", 52"); WE5 (40", 46"); W55/57 (32", 37", 40", 46", 52"); E55 (32", 40"); V55/56 (32", 37",40",46", 52"); S55 (22", 26", 32", 37", 40"); S56 (32", 37", 40"); P55 (22", 26", 32", 37", 40"); P56 (32", 37", 40"); P36 (32", 40"); P35 (32")