Recently Filed in Opinion/Soapbox

Whether you’re in the market for home theater products, computers or appliances, in these energy-conscious times you should start your search with Energy Star–rated models. Energy Star is a U.S.-government backed program that identifies energy-efficient products, from appliances to lighting to consumer electronics. And we’re going to see more and more home electronics meeting Energy Star requirements—including more efficient HDTVs. The Energy Star program is voluntary for manufacturers, but as demand increases for energy-efficient products, more manufacturers will want to meet that demand. As a… View this story
Displays • Set Top Boxes • Green Technology • Home Theater • Info and Answers • Opinion/Soapbox

You’ve probably heard Jack Johnson’s music on pop radio, specifically his hits “Bubble Toes” in 2002 and “Upside Down” in 2006. He’s also the voice in the music to the children’s film “Curious George.” Now the mellow acoustic strummer has a new album, Sleep Through the Static, which is leading the way environmentally. The album is said to have been made with 100 percent solar power. Johnson’s Bushfire Records studio in Los Angeles, where the album was recorded, is powered by solar panels on its… View this story
Green Technology • Movies and Music • Info and Answers • Opinion/Soapbox

Energy Star, the U.S government-backed program that identifies energy-efficient electrical products, has finalized new requirements for TVs. The new standards bode well for LCDs, but not so well for plasma-based displays. For the first time, TVs will have to meet lower power requirements in their “on” or active states to bear the Energy Star logo. Currently, Energy Star-compliant TVs must consume less than 1 watt of power in standby mode, or what most of us know as off. (See “Why Your Electronics Suck [Energy]” for… View this story
Displays • Plasma • Green Technology • Info and Answers • Opinion/Soapbox

Reducing the electricity you use for lighting in and around our house is a great idea. If you believe in helping the environment, this helps to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere by power plants, many of which burn coal. Even if you don’t believe in the greenhouse effect and climate change, it makes sense to lighten your lighting load—if only to save you some bucks. Compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs are a great way to do this, as they use only… View this story
Fixtures and Switches • Green Technology • Info and Answers • Opinion/Soapbox

It’s called The Most Terrifying Video You’ll Ever See, though don’t expect The Blair Witch Project or the new Cloverfield. It’s simply a science teacher using a marker board to outline the options for either doing something about climate change, or doing nothing. Whether or not you believe in the whole greenhouse effect and climate change, check out this very rational approach that does a good job of balancing all concerns. Not everyone agrees with it, of course, but it’s probably one the most objective… View this story
Green Technology • Info and Answers • Opinion/Soapbox

Yes, you can be “green” and still have great home entertainment. Here are just a few ways you can conserve energy or be eco-friendly with video products. Look for Energy Star-rated TVs and other electronics. Energy Star is a U.S. government-backed program that rates energy-efficient products, including audio/video systems. Energy Star products are often bear the Energy Star logo or are similarly marked. To be rated Energy Star at present, video products like TVs and DVD players must use less than 1 watt of power… View this story
Displays • Green Technology • Info and Answers • Opinion/Soapbox

Audio has probably never been associated with environmentalism. Not that they’re mutually exclusive, but having killer audio is often thought of in terms of power—100 watts per channel and home theater systems with thousands of combined watts. Yummy yum yum yum. But all those watts cost you money as the electric meter spins round and round. And come to think of it, using that kind of juice may not be so good for the environment. What’s an audio lover to do? The good news is… View this story
Speakers • Green Technology • Info and Answers • Opinion/Soapbox

I have been quietly watching the press, including those from my own group, talk about the seemingly final round of the Blu-ray and HD DVD format war. Having attended the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) along with the myriad press conferences and now seeing everyone (including electronichouse.com) jump on the bandwagon, I have to share my opinion as well. Go ahead call me a Pollyanna, but I thought the idea behind the format war was to let the consumer choose—right? Yes, I do think it would… View this story
Blu-ray • HD DVD • Info and Answers • Opinion/Soapbox

Crestron has announced that it has joined the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the organization responsible for creating the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System. The high-end home control company says its membership in the USGBC will benefit Crestron dealers who are integrating Crestron control solutions in projects applying for LEED certification. “Going green is nothing new for Crestron. We’ve designed and manufactured environmentally efficient solutions for decades,” said Randy Klein, Crestron’s executive vice president. “Our goal in joining the… View this story
Green Technology • Manufacturers • Info and Answers • Opinion/Soapbox

You may have heard about new efficiency standards for external power supplies used by laptop computers, printers, cordless telephone systems, and a host of other electronics products. These power supplies, also known as AC/DC adapters, “bricks” or “wall warts,” transform AC power that comes from the electrical outlet to DC power that sensitive electronics can handle—and they can be quite inefficient. Until recently. Newer external power supplies that meet the current, voluntary Energy Star requirements can achieve efficiency levels of up to 84 percent, as… View this story
Green Technology • Info and Answers • Opinion/Soapbox

A new professional designation program from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) aims to provide homebuyers with additional assurance that the builder or remodeler they’ve chosen is authentically “green.” The Certified Green Professional designation will be unveiled Thursday, Feb. 14 during Green Day at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla. “We know green is the future of building. With the Certified Green Professional designation, we’re helping our qualified members demonstrate to their clients that the future is here,” says NAHB president Brian Catalde,… View this story
Green Technology • Info and Answers • Opinion/Soapbox

Perhaps the clearest sign that green technologies are making inroads in the consumer electronics industry will be seen at the Consumer Electronics Show that attracts more than 140,000 attendees to Las Vegas, Jan. 7 to 10. Amid the myriad announcements from manufacturers about the latest and greatest in everything electronic will be several conferences focused on energy efficiency, recycling, and the use of environmentally friendly materials in electronics. In addition, several companies will be exhibiting in the show’s Sustainability TechZone. Kristina Taylor, manager of recycling,… View this story
Green Technology • CES • Info and Answers • Opinion/Soapbox