When the President of the United States is impressed with your technology demonstration, you know the demo results are worth publicizing. Such was the case recently when Photon Dynamics and several other high-tech companies were invited on two separate occasions to meet with President George W. Bush to discuss ways that a business-government partnership might ease the energy crisis.

Photon Dynamics demonstrated the striking differences in energy consumption between a cathode ray tube and a liquid-crystal display. Two ac watt/hour meters and one laptop computer were connected to measure the outputs of a 17-inch LCD, or flat-panel display, and a 19-inch CRT. (A 17-inch LCD and 19-inch CRT have equivalent viewing areas.) The LCD's power consumption figure was 73 watts lower than the CRT's.

Granted, some of the technologies demonstrated cost more money than their energy-hungry alternatives. But the payoff for the initially higher cost is significant energy savings.

Although LCD prices are dropping, they still cost more than their CRT-based counterparts, and many companies, especially startups, would feel the impact. But many industry experts believe companies should make the energy-savvy investment now.

Research shows that LCDs use about 74 percent less electricity than CRTs. With more than 50 million CRTs in use in California, the state could save up to $1 billion a year, or almost 5 billion kW-h of its total electricity use, if it replaced only half of its CRTs with LCDs.

Flat panels also save space while reducing eye strain and heat load. And they are kinder to the environment. The EPA recently released a study by the University of Tennessee that compared the environmental impact of LCDs with that of CRTs. The findings attested to the power consumption savings as well as to a reduction in pollution and groundwater contamination for LCDs.

Of course, energy conservation is an issue of global importance. A report by the Electronics Industry Association of Japan shows that if 50 percent of CRT monitors in Japan were changed to flat panels, four power plants and 181,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions could be eliminated.

Perhaps the United States, particularly energy-strapped California, should lead by example. Large rate increases, of as much as 40 percent in some areas, took effect in June, spurring residents and businesses to conserve. But experts caution that while a sense of crisis has contributed to reductions in electricity demand, as soon as people believe the emergency has ended, many will return to their energy-extravagant ways.

Switching to LCDs is a permanent solution to an energy problem that could linger for many years to come.

Vincent Sollitto is president and chief executive officer of Photon Dynamics (San Jose, Calif.).