Creating an eco-friendly or "green" home can sometimes seem like a daunting or overwhelming prospect. Where do you begin? What do you need to consider? What the heck is "green," anyway?

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While there’s no truly “green” flat screen TV—the item itself is an example of conspicuous consumption—some options are better than others. While any techie will tell you the most important spec to look for is a high contrast ratio, there are a few planetary considerations you should keep in mind when looking to upgrade your television set.

Instead of going for the biggest screen possible, try a more conservative size that requires less power. Contrary to conventional television wisdom, you don’t actually need a bigger set to get a better picture with a flat screen—in fact, the technology assures such clarity and accuracy that a huge screens becomes superfluous. Most companies offer 15" or 20" screens, and the sharp pictures will more than make up for the smaller size.