The 'new kid on the block'; LED-backlit LCD television
It is claimed that LED screens offer significant power savings over both LCD and plasma televisions. Energy-efficient backlighting allows LED televisions to have an energy consumption of up to 40 percent less than LCD televisions and significantly less than a plasma screen. But there are two types of LED screens
Benefits of LED and RGB Dynamic LEDs vs Edge-LEDs.
I read in one of the tests that the local dimming LED TVs used quite a bit more power than a traditional LCD TV in the same screen size. This type of LED television approaches plasma displays in power usage. The edge lit LED televisions use less power than an LCD of the same size. 1st: Edge lit LED, 2nd LCD TV (fluorescent), 3rd: Local dimming LED.
LED Screens are still significantly dearer, but are superior in image quality; light in weight, extremely thin but most importantly harmful chemicals like lead and mercury and other VOCs are left out of the production process.
A chemical used to make LCD televisions and semiconductors could cause more global warming than coal-fired power plants, a report warns. Nitrogen trifluoride is a 'missing greenhouse gas', more can be read here [Edit 2019 - source no longer available].
Samsung, one of the manufacturers, has made efforts to cut down on energy consumption and Samsung has left out harmful chemicals like lead and mercury and other VOCs. While you don’t want this TV to end up in a landfill, if it does, it won’t be leaching harmful chemicals .
But, fortunately, through Samsung’s Recycling Direct program you can avoid the landfill option. Available in 50 states throughout the US, Samsung gives you the option to take back all your Samsung-branded electronic devices. Read more about this here
Up to date Energy ratings can be found on www.energyrating.gov.au