News 

European governments are currently in the process of finalising a mandatory EU regulation, aimed to set the minimum standards for televisions. The most energy inefficient sets will be phased out, and the remaining TV sets labelled with energy ratings, so that consumers can identify the most energy efficient sets.

Power consumption increases in tandem with screen size, which means that large plasma screen TV sets could use four times as much electricity and emit four times as much carbon dioxide as the biggest CRT TVs. Plasma screen account for twice as much electricity consumption as a fridge-freezer.

The EU regulation is set to be finalised in Spring 2009. The move follows recently introduced EU legislation that will see the 100W incandescent lightbulb phased out, as part of a drive to slow down the growth of electricity consumption in homes, by phasing out energy-inefficient devices in favour of alternatives that use up less power.

A spokesman for the Department-for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs told The Telegraph that plasma televisions would not be banned completely, and eco-friendly sets will remain on the market.