Consumer electronics use 15% to 20% of household electricity. How can you tell how much energy you're using and how much it's costing you for each of your gadgets? Try using a home energy monitor. Some of these models can plug into your appliance while others have a transmitter that clips onto your electricity meter to measure the kilowatts used. You can also get a home energy audit to determine how much energy your home consumes and to find out how to make it more energy efficient with your heating and cooling systems.
There's also a more energy efficient way to power your gadgets. Forget electric sockets or electric charges. Instead, use a renewable energy source such as a solar charger. It can be used to power laptops, cell phones, mp3 players, and gps. If the sun isn't shining, you can always use a wind-power or hand-crank charger.When shopping for new electronics, look for the Energy Star label. Gadgets with this label use significantly less energy than conventional models.
Do you continue to use your electronic devices throughout the years, or do you usually upgrade to the latest model? Do any of the electronics in your home include the Energy Star label? Leave your answers in the comment field below.
Comment for a chance to win a gadget - foldable cardboard speakers - and a journal from Sundance Channel. Responses must be posted by June 22nd for a chance to receive a set.
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Tuesday, June 17th on The Green:
"Big Ideas for a Small Planet: Gadgets", 9:00pm e/p
It's hard to resist the siren call of cutting-edge consumer gadgets, but it certainly mitigates guilt if the shiny new toy in question helps repair the planet. In this episode we'll preview the technology, the products, and the innovators that may re-write our future, whether through circuit boards made from chicken featers or shopping malls powered by the shoppers themselves.
Strait Through the Ice, 9:35pm e/p
Directed by Yves Billy. The melting of Arctic polar ice has led to an unexpected and radical geographic development: the emergence of a new maritime route between the Atlantic and the Pacific that is far shorter than the Panama or Suez Canals. Industrialized nations are keen to exploit the commercial possibilities of the strait, which courses through one of the most vulnerable and biologically unique places on earth. This French documentary explores the critical issues to be resolved by a handful of powerful countries as they weigh economic potential against environmental consequences.
Do you have a "Big Idea" for the environment? Join The Green group to learn more about the environment, share your thoughts on sustainable living, and to contribute to weekly discussion topics. To join, click here.
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Comments: 49
www.realgoods.com.
Love realgoods.com BTW!
We have energy star appliances when we've had to replace broken ones; the same with a storm door. We have been donating cell phones to charities like women's shelters.
I keep old computers going for many years and do not replace my cell phone just because I can. I usually donate old computer equipment to schools if they want it. Otherwise it gets recycled. Luckily, we have free electronics recycling in town.
There are concerns about certain cell phone recycling services:
"Basel Action Network, named after an agreement on protecting developing countries from toxic waste, criticized 1-800-Got-junk for failing to promise that their free electronic waste recycling program would avoid shipping toxic waste to developing countries."
Another thing we did last year was allow the electric company to put a device on our air conditioner which automatically turns it off if there is a chance of overload. We save money and reduce our use of energy, too.
We have a couple of cell phones that "died" and keep meaning to drop them off at the church cell phone recycling bin. (The church takes batteries, too!) We tend to keep our cell phones (and most other things) until they die off and don't use them much.
I would like a home energy monitor - what a great idea. We're also planning a home energy audit this year.
Cardboard Speakers? I've used cardboard rounds to amplify signal before, but hadn't though of using it as a structural base.
Our washer/dryer and new window unit A/C all have the Energy Star label on it. We'll have to go for that solar charger as well! Thanks!
It opens like a fan and is small enough when closed to fit in your pocket.
Check it out, it's way cool and the company is developing all sorts of other kewl solar products. This is where our country's future belongs, in the creation of new emerging technologies. Not chasing losing old technologies like trying to squeeze oil from shale or carpet bombing Anwar for expensive oil that won't last us very long.
I'm a real techno-geek and I have a ton of all kinds of fun and kewl gadgets. I have so many digital cameras (I still have my first one, a Mavica that used floppys) & Gameboys that I could open a museum. I usually donate my old computers to less fortunate friends who need one or donate them to various schools, where they're needed as well. I recycle all the batteries we use, as well as just about everything else I can.
I recycle pretty much every thing you can think of and gadgets are no different.
Freecycle is a way to recycle anything you can imagine. Each city has a list, hosted by yahoogroups, and members can post things they WANT, things they have for OFFER (things they want to recycle). I've seen things like soil, worms, iPods, computers, baby clothes, garbage cans, vacuum cleaner bags, flower pots, plants, tickets, refrigerators, couches, beds, moving boxes, tables, etc. You name it, it's been on recycle at some point.
If you really want to recycle check out your local freecycle.
We always purchase home appliances with the energy star rating but I did not do this with my electronics. I will do that in the future though. I will not be purchasing anything new until this one tears up though.
We do have a solar radio and a solar battery charger. I love the solar electronics. I feel so good about using them.
Thanks for the information. I love reading about Green things.
now if only i had speakers...for when i stop walking.
that website is the best, not only can you get rid of your electronics to people who need them, but anything! it keeeps tons and tons of junk out of landfills each year!
My newest PC is about 9 years old.
I finally had to stop using laser videodisc and switch to digital videodisc when my player stopped functioning and I couldn't find a repairman who knew how to fix it. Of course, that meant that I had to spend a lot of money buying DVDs so that I would have something to watch.
What am I going to do if my turntable needs repair?
I always try to recycle.
Our fridge is energy star, I think it's the only major appliance we've bought for this house!
Blessings ~
Rene
This is a great group, learn lots here.
On my part - the Energy Star logo (and its water-efficiency 'cousin) are one of the priority features I required when I started replacing th appliances in my condo 3 years ago.
My warm weather electricity bill is about 10-15% lower, which gives me a little more leeway for the heating in winter (it is no higher than it was before electricity rates jumped the last couple years). It is not extremely cold here, but the dampness seeps in and makes it chilly. I tend to keep my bedroom the warmest (63-67 F) thru the winter unless there is reason to be concerned about a power outage - then I will warm it up much more and keep the door closed if power DOES go out.
My remaining replacements are the upstairs baseboard heaters, thermostats (i want to put in programmables) and the fans in the bathrooms need timers as well.
I have replaced 80% of my incandescent light bulbs with CFL's. I have a few fixtures I plan to replace, so I am not swapping those out until fixtures are replaced - hopefully with LED bulb\fixtures.