Squeezing More Savings Out Of Energy-Efficient Home Electronics in Ann Arbor

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Today's home electronics are much more energy efficient than they were years ago, but because households are stuffed with so many gadgets used more often, energy conservation recommendations for home electronics won't go away.

Landmark research has found that the number of consumer electronics products per household has doubled since 1997, with televisions and personal computers leading the way. Along with televisions, desktop computers and their monitors, video recorders and cable and satellite set top boxes lead the way in terms of frequency of use, according to the Consumer Electronics Association's (CEA) "Energy Consumption by Consumer Electronics in U.S. Residences". Better efficiency is finding it's way into the largely computerized gadgets.

"Standby power consumption has decreased in large part due to the success of voluntary government-industry programs such as Energy Star coupled with technological innovation," said Douglas Johnson, CEA's senior director of technology policy.

Even with greater efficiency, ever larger big-screen televisions, as well as computers and video game boxes, with greater processing power, require more juice than the same items with smaller screens and less processing power.

"You still need to be responsible and energy conscious. It just makes good sense," said Kristina Taylor, a CEA spokeswoman.

The study examined the energy use of 16 product categories, everything from answering machines to video cassette recorders and included home theater systems, cordless telephones, compact stereo systems and notebook computers, along with analog televisions, computers and DVD players and recorders.

CEA found that consumer electronics consume 11 percent of residential electricity and three product categories account for approximately two-thirds of consumer electronics residential energy consumption -- analog televisions, desktop personal computers, and set-top boxes for cable and satellite services.

To help tame the power grab CEA's new MyGreenElectronics, helps computers choose and use electronics with energy conservation in mind.

"Until now, energy consumption discussions have been largely informed by limited and incomplete data from the late 1990's. Now, up-to-date data is available to support energy efficiency initiatives, guide policy decisions and properly characterize the role of consumer electronics in household energy consumption," Johnson said.

CEA advises:
Look for the Energy Star® label. It can help you identify products that use less energy. Check out Energy Star's website (http://www.energystar.gov) for a searchable database of Energy Star products.

Unplug mobile phone or PDA chargers when batteries are fully charged or when the chargers are not in use.

When available, use personal and laptop computers' power management features to control energy consumption. Check owners' manuals to make sure you're taking full advantage of any energy-conservation capabilities of your electronic equipment.

When you're finished watching a movie or playing a video game, don't forget to turn off your DVD player or video game console as well as the television or monitor.

"If you are done watching the television don't leave the DVD player on for two weeks," said Taylor.

Plug electronics, such as TVs, DVD players and audio systems, into power strips, and turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use especially for long periods of time. Be sure to read the manual first to make sure you won't affect the product. (For example, TVs which need to remain plugged in so that they can download program guides.)

"This won't work with TiVo of course. Use power strips that let you turn off parts of the strip for technology that doesn't require standby modes," said Taylor.

Investigate home-networking and automation products and services that let you control heating, lighting and cooling from a central location in the home.

When in the market for home office products, consider multifunction units combining, say printing, copying, scanning and faxing, instead of a single device for each function.
Use technology to save money. For example, save fuel by shopping and banking from home on your computer.

Appeal to your employer in the name of conservation and ask to work from home at least part of the time to cut your commute. Ask your employer about working from home or a satellite business location to cut your commute.

Written by Broderick Perkins


Broderick Perkins, is executive editor of San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews.Com, an editorial content and editorial consulting firm. Perkins has been a consumer and real estate journalist for 28 years.

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