Smart lighting control can lead to real energy savings.

Lighting control can be as addictive as a DVR. Once you’ve experienced the convenience of a well-implemented lighting control system in your home, there’s no going back. I know my enjoyment of my home theater went up dramatically just by installing a simple wireless dimmer, controlled by my universal remote.

If you feel like a lighting control system is more luxury than necessity, know that light management can lead to energy and potentially money savings as well.

Guilt-Free HT: Solar panels help get your theater off the grid.

All across the consumer electronics industry, manufacturers are looking for ways to make their products more energy-efficient. Power reduction is a great goal, but let’s talk about power generation.

If you could create enough clean energy to power all of your A/V components, then you could spend less time fretting over individual watts and more time enjoying the fruits of your theater’s labor.

Southern California dealer wants your TVs

Diamond Case Designs, Inc. in Anaheim wants to give you cash towards your purchase of an Energy Star rated television.

And it's not just for TVs, it's for all your old electronics.

Pretty cool idea, eh? All the info after the jump...

Dim the Lights: The Eco-Friendly Way

Light dimmers can increase the ambience in any room.

With the added benefit of being eco-friendly, Lutron Electronics eco-minders, Maestro and Meadowlark, not only dim light, but can also dim your energy bills.

Learn more…

Where are we in the great “producer responsibility” debate?

When we last tackled the issue of recycling we discussed how most everyone in the consumer electronics field agrees there is a serious problem with e-waste. But who is responsible for the cost of recycling? Is it the manufacturer, the retailer, the consumer or the government?

A year later, the debate still rages and, from a legal perspective, is heating up.

To Regulate or Not to Regulate - California considers mandate for TV energy efficiency.

When it comes to environmental policy and regulation, it’s often said that, as goes California, so goes the nation. From clean air to fuel efficiency, the Golden State has led the pack in its attempts to regulate for the sake of the environment. Perhaps that’s why a new California Energy Commission proposal is turning heads in the consumer electronics industry.

The makings of an eco TV.

Just what is an eco TV? The phrase first appeared in 2008, brought to us by the fine folks at Philips to describe their 42PFL5603D LCD HDTV. In September, Vizio jumped aboard the eco TV train with an eco-friendly 32-inch LCD model, and I suspect we’ll be seeing even more models in years to come.

Are eco TVs truly different from “non-eco” TVs, or is this just marketing spin?

Have you embraced your TV’s power-saving features?

It seems like every TV manufacturer is trying to sell us on its products’ energy efficiency, mostly by touting the TVs’ power-saving features.

Be warned, though: Not all power-saving modes are created equal, so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the different options to know exactly what you’re getting.