The combined energy consumption of US televisions and videocassette recorders was about 40 TW h per year in 1998, corresponding to 3.6% of national residential electricity consumption. The average household television energy consumption was about 310 kW h per year, 23% of which was used while the units were not active. The average household videocassette recorder energy use was about 100 kW h per year, 95% of which was used while the units were not active. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.