Flat-screen HDTVs, with their sharp picture and space-saving dimensions, are likely to be one of the hottest-selling items this holiday season. And while the new technologies found in most  HD displays net impressive energy and environmental savings per-inch over older CRT models, bigger screen sizes have resulted in a growing carbon footprint.

Fortunately, there are ways to cut back on the power consumption caused by these modern marvels, to ensure that your big gift is a sustainable as possible.

First, adjust the settings as soon as you get home. Most HDTV displays are set by default for the bright environment of the a department store. Cutting down the brightness of the screen will save power, reduce heat, and make the viewing experience easier on your eyes. Secondly, turn off any "quick start" features that consume energy to keep the TV in standby mode. The cost is a few more seconds waiting for the picture to spring on, the but energy savings are worth it.

An even more comprehensive solution might be to have your entire home theater system connected to a surge protector, which you then switch off or unplug when not in use. This keeps devices from sucking down power when not in use, and can protect them from damage. Finally, look for energy saving HDTV sets—newer, purpose build models can drop to as few as 75 watts—or roughly the amount of juice used by your average laptop.

<em>Photo by flickr user WIlliam Hook</em>