November 11th, 2010

If visions of a new computer, an upgraded cell phone or a flat screen TV are dancing in your head this holiday season, you don’t necessarily have to feel guilty about it. No one will confuse adding 50 inches of viewing pleasure with planting a tree when it comes to carbon footprint, but bringing that shiny new toy into your home may not be quite the environmental faux pas it used to be.

From design to operation to disposal, electronics are getting a little more eco-friendly. That’s a good thing, too, since we seem to be incorporating more and more of them into our daily lives. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, a typical American household features 24 electronic devices, from clock radios to DVDs and Blu-Ray players to computers and TVs.

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November 30th, 2009

By Ashley Phillips
Green Right Now

More and more electronics seem to make Americans’ Christmas lists. Unfortunately, many electronics waste energy and run up electric bills, even while you are not using them. So here’s a list of environmentally friendly, yet still savvy, electronic gifts.

HYmini can charge using solar, wind and wall outlets

The HYmini is an all-in-one solar, wind, USB and wall charger that can be used to recharge almost any 5-volt gadget. It includes a 6 watt, rechargeable Powerbank that collects energy from a built-in wind generator, a .7 watt mini solar panel, wall outlet, or your computer’s USB. The handheld, lightweight charger even fastens safely so you can charge in motion. Even better, there’s no additional software needed. The HYmini features an LED night-light and charge-in green indicator. This all-in-one charger is affordable, retailing for $49.99.

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January 8th, 2009

By Tom Kessler
Green Right Now

Television manufacturers are using this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to debut new eco-friendly products and designs. In some cases, the new digital TV sets surpass the federal government’s Energy Star 3.0 requirements.

Japan’s Sony is unveiling a series of energy efficient televisions. The company says its new BRAVIA VE5-series models (pictured) will offer substantial power savings by using a zero-watt standby power switch, along with motion and light sensors that minimize energy usage.

Irvine, Calif.-based VIZIO is rolling out seven new EcoHD LCD HDTVs that consume less energy and exceed Energy Star 3.0 requirements by as much as 25 percent.

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