Our tip of the week comes just in time for Black Friday deals: replace electronics such as TVs, Blu-ray disc players, DVD players and telephones with ENERGY STAR® models. 

According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the average American household owns 24 electronic items.  That results in 12 percent of household electricity use.  ENERGY STAR claims that, “If each TV, DVD [player], and soundbar purchased in the U.S. this year were ENERGY STAR certified, we would save more than $250 million and prevent 2.9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions every year, equal to the emissions from nearly 290,000 vehicles.”

No matter what you are in the market for, the ENERGY STAR website is a great resource offering energy saving facts, rebate information, and product finders.  Below are some highlights from the ENERGY STAR website electronics section to help inform your shopping and lifestyle:

• Blu-ray players that are ENERGY STAR certified are on average 45% more efficient than non-certified and ENERGY STAR certified audio/video equipment can be up to 70% more efficient than non-certified.
• If you use a Digital Media Player (DMP) to stream content to your TV, ENERGY STAR certified DMPs are 45% more efficient than ones that aren’t certified.  In addition, they are 4 times more energy efficient than a traditional cable/satellite box, 11 times more efficient than streaming from a computer, and 15 times more efficient than streaming from a game console. 
• Play games on game consoles instead of streaming shows.  Here are some additional ways to use less energy on game consoles.
• Using a multi-room thin-client device in a home instead of having a DVR for each television is 30 percent more efficient.
• Tablets use less energy than any other device to stream videos.
• Did you know that there are almost as many TVs in the US as people?  ENERGY STAR certified TVs use about 25% less energy than non-certified.

If you do replace your electronics with more efficient options, be sure to properly recycle all electronics to remove them from the electric grid. Earth 911 offers a recycling database that covers North American recylcing locations so you can find one that is near your home.

READY TO TAKE ACTION?

At 7th Generation Advisors we are diligently working with scientists, policymakers, activists and clean tech companies to create a clean energy economy for all, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to protect all living things seven generations into the future.
We care about the future of our planet. Will you join us?