CEA shares tips to help consumers live, buy green

With temperatures climbing high, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) wants to share some tips with consumers on how to live green and save money on your electric bill this summer:

° GreenerGadgets.org is the destination to learn how to be more eco-friendly with your electronics. Research shows the more you understand the energy use of your electronic devices, the less energy you will use and more money you will save. The Consumer Electronics Energy Calculator at GreenerGadgets.org helps determine how much energy you use based on the number of products you have and the amount of time they are used.

° Look for the ENERGY STAR label or EPEAT-certified product labels when purchasing new electronics. These labels can help identify energy-efficient appliances and other electronics that will save energy and money on your electric bill. Smaller, newer products like smartphones or tablets use far less energy than their ancestors. It costs less than US$1.38 to charge an iPad for an entire year, according to a study by the Electric Power Research Institute.

° Using a programmable or smart thermostat can help cut cooling costs during the hot summer months. These handy devices, such as the Nest or the Eversense, learn your schedule and regulate what temperature to keep your home at during different times of the day.

° Most personal computers and laptops have management features that control energy use. Check your electronics to make sure you’re taking full advantage of any energy-conservation capabilities your devices may have.

° Plug electronics, such as televisions, DVD players, game consoles and audio systems, into an eco-friendly power strip or unplug devices when not in use.
Remember to recycle all of your old electronics responsibly when updating your home or office. You can find a local recycling location using CEA’s recycler locator tool.

“As consumer electronics become more efficient, the cost to your energy bill will continue to decrease when you employ strategies like these,” says Samantha Nevels, communications coordinator, CEA (www.CE.org). “In the hot summer months, it’s easy to run up a high electric bill. By understanding your energy use and learning strategies to be more energy efficient, consumers can save money and help out the environment at the same time.”