Power consumption in a big complex unit like a home theatre can be high, particularly running multiple or linked systems. That's not good for the equipment, and it's also not necessary. There's a lot you can do to save power on any home theatre unit. Fortunately for bill-paying homeowners, an LCD TV is naturally energy efficient, and so are its peripheral systems, with some care.

Power savers

There are quite a few ways of saving power by simply not using some options on a home theatre:

Standby or Quick Start: Many systems have a Standby or Quick Start option. This keeps them fully charged and ready to go, but it also eats power on a large system. Just don't use this option.
Brightness controls: The default factory setting for TVs is full blast on all settings. This can do some damage to the TV, if it's not adjusted, and really does affect product life. The settings should be adjusted downwards, and tailored to suit the lighting in the room.
Power saver mode: A quick hunt through the User Manual will find the Power Saver information, if it's not obvious on the set itself. Power Saver Mode is exactly the same thing as on a computer, and works the same way.
Just turn the set off when not in use: It's a real myth that TVs burn up energy when being turned off and on. This is a standard power consumption rate, and naturally it takes a few seconds to start. Otherwise it's normal power usage.
Energy efficiency

The energy efficiency ratings on modern TVs, for example on a Samsung LCD TV are very good indicators of energy efficiency. The difference between ratings is also a good indicator of the difference between high energy efficiency and low, and it's significant.

Turning off unnecessary power usage

The basic rule is, "If it doesn't need to be on, turn it off." Another urban myth is that appliances in passive modes with the power on are somehow more efficient operationally. They're simply not, and it's only a waste of energy.

LCD backlights

All TVs look a bit dazzling , but often different, when on display, where they're turned full up for maximum display value. That's because the high setting can negatively affect picture quality. The LCD backlight can be adjusted to your needs, and you'll find turning it down does invariably help picture resolution.

Light outputs

Light outputs are controlled by the Picture or Contrast settings, so you've got a good working mechanism there for reducing power consumption, as well as getting a better picture.

Room lighting vs. TV light- avoiding a conflict of interest

LCD TVs have a relatively low output, and some room lighting is very strong. The easy way to deal with this is to simply use the lower wattage energy saving light bulbs, or if you've got dimmer fittings, to use them selectively until you get the right picture.