A new scandal about false energy efficiency claims is about to explode. This time around it is not about fuel efficiency like Volkswagen but rather about HDTVs-with Samsung in the limelight. ComplainTV reported to The Guardian that real-world energy consumption of Samsung TVs is different from official test conditions.
This echoes the story of VW but in a completely different way. The feature in question is called "motion lighting" and is supposed to reduce screen brightness when pictures in the screen are in motion. However, according to ComplainTV, the Samsung TVs would reduce brightness during International Electrotechnical Commission testing but the same cannot be said in real-world applications, PC Mag reported.
The ComplainTV report has yet to be published but The Guardian said that the European Commission has fielded similar complaints from EU member states. For instance, the Swedish Energy Agency said that the TVs they tested would adjust settings accordingly when being tested. The agency said that "these displays immediately lower their energy use by adjusting the brightness of the display when the standard film is being run."
Samsung was quick to denounce the claim in a blog post. They said that, "Motion lighting is not a setting that only activates during compliance testing," Samsung said. "On the contrary, it is a default setting which works both in the lab and at home; delivering energy savings and helping us to reduce our environmental impact."
The ComplainTV report says that "Samsung is meeting the letter of the law but not the spirit of the law," The Verge quoted. As the official report has yet to come out, it is quite difficult to judge to report. But, apparently, based on power consumption, fuel bills, and carbon emissions, there is no difference in real-world use of Samsung TVs.
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