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Commit to go green in 2009! Article series courtesy of the City of Valparaiso and Recycling & Waste Reduction District of Porter County.

DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION - ARE YOU READY?

After February 17, 2009, most television stations will broadcast only in digital, as required by the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005. You will not be affected by the transition if you own a television with a digital tuner or subscribe to a TV service (e.g., cable or satellite). EPA is encouraging consumers who own an analog TV set and who receive free broadcasts (via rabbit ears or a roof antenna) to extend the life of their TV by purchasing a digital converter box. For consumers who choose to buy a new digital TV, EPA recommends energy efficient sets with the ENERGY STAR label and provides information on opportunities to recycle unwanted TVs.

Will my TV work after February 17, 2009?

Currently, many over-the-air stations are broadcasting in both analog and digital TV formats. If you use “rabbit ears” or a rooftop antenna with your analog television, you must take action before February 17, 2009, to continue receiving television broadcasts. Your options include:

§          Buy a converter box that will plug into your analog TV;

§          Connect your analog TV to cable, satellite or other pay service; or

§          Buy a TV with a digital tuner.

§          How can I tell if I have an analog or a digital TV?

The best way to determine whether your TV set has a digital tuner built in is to consult your owner’s manual.  NTSC in the manual or on the back of the TV means that the TV is analog. Or look on your TV set for an input connection labeled “digital input” or “ATSC” (for Advanced Television Systems Committee, which is digital TV format). If that’s not possible, you may be able to look up information about your TV set on the manufacturer’s Web site.

Here are some general guidelines that may help:

§          TVs manufactured before 1998: They probably don’t have digital tuners at all. Almost every TV set made before 1998 was a traditional analog set.

§          Projection TVs manufactured between 1998 and 2004: Only a limited percentage of projection TV sets (and generally only those 42 inches in diameter or larger) included digital tuners before 2004.

§          TVs manufactured since 2004: Your chances of having a built-in digital tuner improve dramatically. Starting in 2004, many of the TV sets sold at popular electronics stores feature digital tuners that will work after February 17, 2009. But it's not a sure thing. Even some of the newer TV sets are purely display monitors that lack the internal circuitry needed to pick up digital broadcasts. Usually these sets have been advertised as "HD-ready" or "HDTV monitor" sets. That means they can display digital and high-definition signals, but they need help getting those signals in the first place. You'll still need a special converter or a cable TV connection.

Extend the life of your analog TV with a converter box

Using a converter box will help extend the life of your analog TV by enabling you to continue to receive over-the-air broadcasts. A converter box converts digital transmission to analog so your analog TV will continue to receive television broadcasts after February 17, 2009. Certified digital-to-analog converter boxes are expected to cost between $50-$70. To help consumers pay for the converter boxes, the federal government is offering US households up to two $40 coupons. Coupons are free, but they expire after 90 days and supply is limited. Upon request, coupons will be mailed to you by the federal government.

To apply for your converter box coupons visit www.DTV2009.gov or call 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009). For more information on the TV converter box coupon program please visit www.DTV2009.gov. The site also enables you to locate a converter box retailer near you.

When buying a converter box, look for one with the ENERGY STAR label. Digital-to-analog converter boxes that are ENERGY STAR-qualified use less energy than conventional converter boxes. If all of the digital-to-analog converter boxes sold in the U.S. met the ENERGY STAR specification, over the lifetime of the products Americans could save approximately 13 billion kilowatt hours and one billion dollars in energy costs — reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking more than one million cars off the road.

Learn more about ENERGY STAR-qualified digital-to-analog converter boxes.

View a list of models (PDF)

What should I do with my old TV?

If you decide to buy a digital TV and no longer want your old analog TV, look for opportunities to recycle it. Recycling TVs recovers valuable materials from the circuit boards, metal wiring, leaded glass, and plastics. Local electronics recycling programs include:

Drop Off Sites: 

§          Valparaiso Compost Site, 2150 W. Lincolnway, seasonal hours – Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (weather permitting)

§          Valparaiso Public Works Office, 406 Don Hovey Drive, Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

§          Portage Street Department, 2303 Hamstrom Road, Portage, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For many working electronic products, donation is a good option because it facilitates reuse and extends the product life. However, with the switch to digital broadcasting, many charitable organizations will no longer be accepting analog TVs. Please check with the organization before you drop off your old electronics.

If I decide to buy a new digital TV, where can I find one that is energy efficient?
Will the Retailer Take and Recycle your Old TV?

When purchasing a new TV, ask the retailer if they will take and recycle your old, unwanted set when they deliver your new digital TV. For example, Best Buy offers their customers the service of removing an unwanted TV for recycling when they deliver a new set.

Today's TVs, when combined with related products like DVD players and set-top boxes, make up about 10 percent of a household's annual electricity bill. ENERGY STAR qualified TVs use about 30 percent less energy than standard units.  You can find the ENERGY STAR on everything from standard TVs, to HD-ready TVs, to the largest flat-screen plasma TVs. By choosing ENERGY STAR, you are saving energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting cleaner air without sacrificing the product quality and performance you expect.

Source: www.epa.gov