Tomorrow marks the first official day of summer, which for many Americans evokes
images of vacations and traveling. Unfortunately, with record high gas and oil
prices, this summer also brings to mind images of higher energy costs. The
Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® offers five simple tips to
help families save electricity — and money — this summer:
- Look for the label: The EPA’s ENERGY STAR
label quickly identifies energy-efficient appliances and electronics. Visit http://www.energystar.gov for a searchable
database of ENERGY STAR products. For example, ENERGY STAR qualified TVs use
about 30 percent less energy than standard units.
- Automate it: Automated technology to
control electricity and air conditioning can translate into big savings. Start
with a programmable thermostat since cooling systems use a significant amount of
energy. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat
can save you about $150 every year in energy costs.
- Get the facts: Most people do not like to read their
owners’ manuals, but manuals are full of energy saving ideas. Read your manual
to ensure you are taking full advantage of all the energy-conservation
capabilities available with your electronic devices. For example, you can lower
the brightness—and the energy usage—on your DTV by going to the “main menu,”
selecting “video settings” and then looking for the “brightness” control.
- Unplug it: Many electronic devices, such as televisions,
DVD players, stereos, computers and cell phone battery chargers, continue to
draw a small amount of power even when turned off or not in use. Unplugging
them, versus only turning them off, is a smart idea because a significant amount
of electricity is wasted powering electronic devices that are not in use.
- Centralize it: Make it easy to turn off electronics when
they are not in use by plugging them into power strips. Power strips make it
easy to turn off multiple electronics all at once. However, remember to read the
manual first to make sure you comply with manufacturers’ recommended
specifications.
“Today’s electronics are more energy efficient than ever, a welcome benefit
of the trend toward smaller, more technologically-sophisticated products,” said
CEA’s Parker Brugge, vice president of Environmental Affairs and Corporate
Sustainability. “The combination of energy-efficient design by manufacturers and
energy-conscious usage by consumers goes a long way toward saving energy,
especially during the summer months when power consumption typically spikes.”
For more tips on summer power savings, or to calculate your home’s electronic
energy consumption using CEA’s energy calculator, visit www.MyGreenElectronics.orgTM
.
About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is
the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $161 billion U.S.
consumer electronics industry. More than 2,200 companies enjoy the benefits of
CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical
training and education, industry promotion and the fostering of business and
strategic relationships. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES –
Where Entertainment, Technology and Business Converge. All profits from CES are
reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org.
