Lenovo has released a range of new LCD monitors that are probably the greenest monitors available. The new Thinkvision L2440x monitor received Greenpeace’s highest rating in their Green Electronics Survey 2008 (PDF File).
Recently, I had a chance to review the Thinkvision L2440p 24″ widescreen LCD monitor. The L2440p uses only 30 watts to power its display. As I write this post, my Kill-a-Watt meter says the L2440p is using only 29.5 watts.
Leonvo says the monitor uses a “Light Booster” technology, meaning it consumes up to 50% less power than conventional models. Specifically, the design has been changed to allow the LCD light to be used more efficiently therefore reducing the number of light tubes required to achieve the same levels of brightness.
Beyond its energy efficiency, the Thinkvision L2440p also boasts a 33% reduction in mercury content. It has a list of green certifications including EPEAT Gold and GREENGUARD.
EPEAT is the most comprehensive green certification. It incorporates the new Energy Star 4.1 requirements, and the European RoHS requirements.
Lenovo is really leading the way with green monitors — 24 of the 36 EPEAT Gold rated monitors are made by Lenovo.
As for performance, the screen looks bright and crisp, with a 1920 by 1200 resolution. Ergonomic features include screen pivoting, rotation, and height adjustment.
The packaging for the monitor is 65% recycled material, and its 100% recyclable.
The new models in the range include the following:
- ThinkVision L1700p
- ThinkVision L1940 Wide
- ThinkVision L1940p Wide
- ThinkVision L2240p Wide
- ThinkVision L2440p Wide
- ThinkVision L2440x Wide
The Thinkvision L2440p monitor is available from Amazon for about $320.
Home Page: Thinkvision L2440p
Wow, the display seems to be bigger than my TV. How many ports do they have?
laptop doesn`t need LCD monitor.
Todd, have you measured the power draw of the power strips with a kill-a-watt?
I would be interested to know how much one of those power strips uses with nothing connected to it? Hopefully less than 1W! The smart power strips do look smart, but I’m looking forward to when they are not needed, when most devices have minimal standby power requirements, and if not one of those old fashioned mechanical OFF switches on the FRONT!
Another place that sells those smart power strips is SmartHomeUSA.com
RE Todd Rambasek
If it is an energy star rated it will have a standby load of less than 1 watt (exact requirements will be at energystar.gov). According to energystar.gov this series of monitors uses about 0.37 W in standby/off, and 0.50W in sleep mode.
My Samsung 2493HM uses only 0.0W according to my kill-a-watt when in standby/off and would use even less if I reached around the back since it has a physical off switch (a selling point for me). The in-use power is a bit more though at 32W (with brightness down) – energystar.gov claims 49w but the Sansung 2493HM has a higher upper brightness level, enough to get a tan, or maybe view in sunlight. But I keep the brightness down low (thus 32W).
Lesson: Don’t buy a monitor without looking up specs at energystar.gov, if it is not energystar rated you are right it will probably use 3 to 5 watts in standby.
Sounds like a great discussion.
Also keep in mind that many of these monitors have a phantom load of about 3-5 watts while they are “off”. So using a smart power strip may make almost any monitor a lot greener.
http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Strip-LCG3-Autoswitching-Technology/dp/B0006PUDQK&tag=metaefficient-20
BTW – what is the phantom load of this monitor?
My Samsung Syncmaster 740NW 17″ consumes only 13w on (measured with kill-a-watt), and 0w in standby.
The cost? around $130…
Excellent review, Justin.
Pity that the price is a little high. The L2440p is actually $391.50 from Amazon.com (free shipping) or $314.50 (+ $33.22 shipping) via Amazon, but actually sold by ANTOnline.
In comparison, you can get a 22″ V7 monitor from Staples these days for around $140 with free shipping if you go through sites like DealNews (http://dealnews.com/V7-22-Widescreen-LCD-Display-for-140-free-shipping/276865.html).
Of course, no word on the V7’s energy efficiency or lack thereof…
For point of comparison, when I tested the Kill-a-Watt with my off-brand 17-inch LCD monitor, I found that the monitor drew 32 watts of power. The monitor was not on lowest brightness, so I presume I could reduce the power consumption even further if I turned the brightness levels way down.
Anyway, it’s nice to know that I could get a much bigger screen and not increase my power consumption too much.
I wonder whether even 25″ screens will seem some small someday soon. Will we all be writing Word docs and surfing the web on 60″ OLED computer monitors in 5 years? 🙂
– Aaron Dalton, Editor, 1GreenProduct.com
yudi:
The Thinkvision L2440p monitor is available from Amazon for $316.
EfficiencySeeker:
Percentage error – I would hope the manufacturers’ web sites say.
Before I got a Kill-A-Watt I used a current clamp and wires plus a plug and socket and a logging multi-meter to look at the energy used by my refrigerator. I saw about 10% difference when I redid the measurement with Kill-A-Watt. I was not able to measure voltage variation by doing this.
I would guess that the Kill-A-Watt is within about 5% or better. But that’s a guess.
The important thing for most people (doing a home audit) is the relative accuracy rather than absolute accuracy. i.e. to be able to use it to find which devices use most, and I’m sure it is very good at that.
how much the price?
What is the percentage error for the readings of devices such as Kill-A-Watt and Power Angel?
Erik:
Yes, the LG Monitor is one of the greener out there, I wrote about it here:
https://metaefficient.com/computer-equipment/the-greenest-monitors-of-2008.htm
But LG makes no claims about the monitor beyond energy efficiency — Lenovo monitors have all the green certifications.
What do you think of this LG monitor using only 22 Watt?
http://www.stichtingmilieunet.nl/andersbekekenblog/?p=4393
Mark,
If I turn the L2440p down to the lowest brightness and it uses 27 watts, and at the highest brightness its uses 50 watts.
This model (L2440p) doesn’t incorporate LEDs – I think that’s the L2440x which has better energy efficiency.
What is the power usage if you turn the brightness down to minimum comfortable?
LCD monitors use power almost in proportion to the brightness.