Nov 04 2008

Go Ahead, Be a Couch Potato

With the holiday shopping season slowly creeping earlier and earlier each year, it is with excitement, disbelief and -- let's face it -- trepidation that I begin to consider my shopping list for friends and loved ones.

It was while cruising the latest toys in consumer electronics that I stumbled upon a new generation of energy-efficient television sets that also require ENERGY STAR-labeled accessories. The new TVs hit store shelves on November 1 and can be up to 30 percent more efficient than conventional counterparts. While this new release represents the third generation of energy-efficient TVs, it is the first generation that actually works to decrease the power used when the TV is turned on.

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) wasted no time in praising the new standard of television sets, citing a staggering claim from the U.S. EPA in their press release:

"If all televisions purchased by consumers in 2009 met the new ENERGY STAR standards, the savings in greenhouse gas emissions would be equal to removing one million cars from the road."

Also, David Katzmeyer of CNET.com had the opportunity to test drive a number of HDTVs that fall under the new standard and determined that the Sharp LC-52D65U is the most efficient. As far as price goes, the Sharp ranges from $1,517 to $2,099, which Katzmeyer calls relatively inexpensive. And, even though he cites lighter blacks than some LCDs, he calls the Sharp "a solid value among bigger-screen LCDs."

Offering both form and function, the new generation of energy-efficient televisions may just move the front lines in the fight against global warming to the couch.

Posted by: Katie Romans | Comments (0) digg delicioussend to a friendprint entry

 


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Recent Comments

  • This is being rather generous to Lutz. 1. The "Volt", in no small part, will be targeted as a product to people who care about energy and environmental issues. These people don't embrace Lutz' antideluvian concepts of rejecting science. How responsible is it for a GM executive to be rejecting the science? 2. As well, Lutz didn't exactly sound too enthusiastic about the Volt itself. 3. And, GM public communications has 'defended' Lutz in rather absurd ways. -A Siegel
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  • This article is right on - small businesses have a huge role to play in sustainability. Not only do they add up in aggregate, but many small businesses operate in industries that can have a significant environmental impact depending on the exact practices, like dry cleaners, auto repair shops, etc. Green is also starting to affect the bottom line more and more, customers are increasingly voting with their feet for more sustainable businesses as can be seen from the growth of sites like http://www.ecovian.com. This is also a huge opportunity for small businesses to leapfrog their bigger brothers by being more agile in adopting these measures. -Emily
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  • Great entry, Katie. Love the level of detail you managed to get in there! Probably won't be able to compete with coal and oil any time the next decade, but definitely a great technology to look into! Keep it up :) -Rune (Norway)
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