Is an Efficient Television Worth It in the UK? (2026)
With electricity at 26.3p per kWh in the UK, the saving is too small to justify the purchase: 31.2 years to pay back if you replace a working television, and 7.8 years for the extra cost of the efficient model when you are replacing anyway.
An efficient television cuts electricity by 62%: about 73 kWh, worth £19.21 a year in the UK. Not for the electricity
- From
- 55 inch TV rated G on the 2021 label, about 80 W, about 117 kWh a year
- To
- 55 inch TV rated A or B, about 30 W, about 44 kWh a year
- Usage
- 4 hours a day
| Scenario | You pay | Payback | Net over its life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace a working television now | £600.00 | 31.2 years | −£446.29 |
| Replacing anyway: choose the efficient one | £150.00 | 7.8 years | £3.71 |
Prices are typical figures; type your own quotes above. Net over its life is the total saving over the years it lasts minus what you pay. It ignores inflation, interest and changes in electricity prices, which is conservative while prices are rising.
Our take
Not worth replacing for electricity. The saving is small; lower the backlight on the TV you have instead.
How the two models compare
| Inefficient | Efficient | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | 55 inch TV rated G on the 2021 label, about 80 W | 55 inch TV rated A or B, about 30 W |
| Electricity per year | 117 kWh | 44 kWh |
| Cost per year here | £30.79 | £11.58 |
| Over 8 years | £246.36 | £92.65 |
Usage behind these figures: 4 hours a day. Basis: EU 2021 TV energy label thresholds for a 55 inch screen (about 30 W for class A, about 80 W for the G/F boundary), at 4 hours a day. The Television page prices the appliance at its own typical hours, which you can change there.
The same upgrade in other countries
| Country | Saving per year | Payback, replacing now | Payback, replacing anyway | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (average) | $13.39 | 44.8 years | 11.2 years | Not for the electricity |
| United Kingdom | £19.21 | 31.2 years | 7.8 years | Not for the electricity |
| Germany | €27.01 | 22.2 years | 5.6 years | Worth it when replacing |
| France | €14.61 | 41.1 years | 10.3 years | Not for the electricity |
| Australia | A$25.55 | 23.5 years | 5.9 years | Worth it when replacing |
| Canada (average) | C$10.22 | 58.7 years | 14.7 years | Not for the electricity |
Local electricity prices, with the same purchase price read in local currency, which is a simplification. The saving column is what matters: the higher the price of electricity, the faster any upgrade pays back.
Other upgrades in the UK, fastest payback first
- LED Light Bulbsaves £24.74 a year · worth it now
- Dehumidifiersaves £142.13 a year · worth it now
- Electric Water Heatersaves £806.97 a year · worth it now
- Pool Pumpsaves £369.53 a year · worth it now
- Wi-Fi Routersaves £27.64 a year · worth it when replacing
- Electric Sauna Heatersaves £446.65 a year · worth it when replacing
- Chest Freezersaves £81.59 a year · worth it when replacing
- Hot Tubsaves £672.48 a year · worth it when replacing
- Clothes Dryersaves £118.44 a year · worth it when replacing
- Air Conditionersaves £65.80 a year · worth it when replacing
- Refrigeratorsaves £113.18 a year · worth it when replacing
- Desktop Computersaves £80.80 a year · not for the electricity
- Space Heatersaves £236.88 a year · not for the electricity
- Electric Stovesaves £38.43 a year · not for the electricity
- Dishwashersaves £36.85 a year · worth it when replacing
- Washing Machinesaves £25.00 a year · worth it when replacing