Thanks for the link.
I would suggest that dollar savings should only be part of the reason. Lower power consumption between two comparable choices is a good thing in and of itself.
That said, I think the numbers on that CNet summary table are only of marginal use due to faulty testing methods at the time (emphasis mine):
To maintain as level a playing field as possible, we connect each TV via HDMI to a DVD player playing the disc, we reduce the volume control all the way to "0" (but not muted), and we leave the picture settings in their default positions.
Torch mode isn't how a TV should be used, and it affects the power usage numbers for both LCD and plasma (I stand corrected on an earlier assertion it affected LCD only). More on that difference in a bit...
CNET has since updated their testing methods:
Updated 07-02-2007: For our Juice Box tests, as defined below, we use the same DVD but perform up to four separate measurements: Standby, Default, Calibrated and Power Save.
See
here for a description of that procedure. A "Juice Box" table is included when their TV reviews include that form of testing.
Unfortunately, the big 54 TV CNET Power Consumption table doesn't include any "Juice Box" numbers. Only the torch mode, default picture settings. Therefore, the table isn't entirely useful or relevant.
Here's some more info gathered from CNET that shows why their table is incomplete.
From an Aug. 24th
CNET review of 5 50" plasmas, four of the reviews included Juice Box numbers, as follows:
Pioneer PDP-5080HD
Standby: 22.95 W (that seems awfully high...)
Default: 330.6 W (.31 W/sq.inch) $114.34
Calibrated: 228.56 W (.21 W/sq.inch) $83.35
Power Save: 253.72 W (.24 W/sq.inch) $90.99
Samsung HP-T5064
Standby: 1.28 W
Default: 321.62 W (.3 W/sq.inch) $98.45
Calibrated: 233.3 W (.22 W/sq.inch) $71.63
Power Save: 288.46 W (.27 W/sq.inch) $88.38
LG 50PC5D
Standby: 0.78 W
Default: 320.03 W (.3 W/sq.inch) $97.66
Calibrated: 289.15 W (.27 W/sq.inch) $88.28
Power Save: 247.63 W (.23 W/sq.inch) $75.67
Vizio VP50HDTV
Standby: 1.33 W
Default: 317.23 W (.3 W/sq.inch) $97.14
Calibrated: 197.48 W (.18 W/sq.inch) $60.78
Power Save: N/A
Now, some "Juice Box" numbers for three 46" LCDs and a 47" (not many CNET LCD reviews have these numbers yet):
Samsung LN-T4665F
Standby: 1.21 W
Default: 246.89 W (.27 W/sq.inch) $75.71
Calibrated: 80.53 W (.09 W/sq.inch) $25.19
Power Save: 108.69 W (.12 W/sq.inch) $33.74
Sony KDL-46S3000
Standby: 1.21 W
Default: 202.58 W (.22 W/sq.inch) $61.83
Calibrated: 111.17 W (.13 W/sq.inch) $34.07
Power Save: 61.56 W (.07 W/sq.inch) $19.00
Samsung LN-T4661F
Standby: 0.78 W
Default: 245.63 W (.27 W/sq.inch) $75.07
Calibrated: 113.52 W (.13 W/sq.inch) $34.95
Power Save: 111.31 W (.13 W/sq.inch) $34.28
Westinghouse TX-47F430S
Standby: 40.19 W default! (.72 energy saver)
Default: 278.86 W (.3 W/sq.inch) $109.99
Calibrated: 169.92 W (.18 W/sq.inch) $52.04
Power Save: 278.86 W (.3 W/sq.inch) $85.12
Westinghouse confuses the matter with huge stand-by consumption, and an energy saving setting that seems to do nothing other than drop the stand-by to a reasonable level. Perhaps the Vizio set is also an outlier (had the lowest ratings of the 5 plasmas).
Anyway, these numbers from CNET prove the point that calibration makes a difference. As would lowering the backlight on an LCD (CNET includes it as a power saving tip). They also demonstrate the power consumption benefits LCD are not just a fallacy.
Plasma power consumption drops with proper calibration, while LCD power consumption generally plummets with proper calibration. In the examples cited, average LCD power-on consumption dropped to less than half the default wattage, and in one case--Samsung LN-T4665F--fell to only a third of the original consumption. BTW, that also means the dollar savings are bigger than the earlier CNET table indicated.
So, to repeat:
I'm very interested in seeing a power consumption comparison not only between new plasma and new LCD, but also between torch mode, proper calibration, and also with different backlight settings.
If a source already exists out there, I'm all ears. Thanks!