For purposes of comparison in this article, the monitor and television being discussed are similarly sized (screens measuring 19 inches diagonally) and use similar technology (LCD computer monitor vs. LCD television).
The television to be used for comparison is the Sharp LC-19SB25 widescreen HDTV. This television is capable of using the standard input systems for its product type: S-video, audio, composite, HDMI, component and PC--which allows this TV to be used as a computer monitor, should you desire to do so.
The monitor to be used for comparison is the LG W1952TQ widescreen LCD monitor. This monitor is also capable of using the standard input systems for its product type: DVI and VGA.
The Sharp LC-19SB25 television has a rated power consumption of 44 watts. The LG W1952TQ monitor has a rated power consumption of 36 watts.
Why the difference? Televisions have something that computer monitors do not typically have: speakers. Since a television is used for carrying an on-air broadcast, it must be able to produce both picture and sound from a television signal. A computer monitor, on the other hand, only has to produce a picture from the video signal.
A similarly sized television set and computer monitor both use about the same amount of energy, although the TV set uses slightly more.