Green Tips For Your TV

Televisions are no longer a luxury item like they once were. Now, they are so commonplace that it is not unusual to find several under the same roof. And although today’s LCD TVs use less energy than the old CRTs (inch for inch), once you upsize to a larger screen, all of those energy savings are lost. Still there are some simple and easy ways to make your TV just a little bit greener.

Turn the TV off when you aren’t watching it

This may seem obvious but many people like the “background noise” that a TV offers. However it is a seriously wasteful practice and turning the TV off is a great way to save some money on your energy bills.

Unplug the TV once it’s off

This takes the first suggestion one step further to save even more energy in your home. Most people think that once the TV is off it is not using any energy, however this is not true, as televisions continue to drain small amounts of energy even when they are turned off.

Don’t sleep with the TV on

Lots of people like to fall asleep to the lulling sounds of their favorite late-night infomercial. However, not only does this waste energy, it’s also not very good for you. Scientists have determined that gadgets in bedrooms such as computers and TVs are fuelling poor quality “junk sleep”.

Turn down the brightness on your TV

Most TVs are much brighter than they need to be. Some TVs even have a home setting and a store (or showroom) setting. Make sure your TV is set to the home setting and this will reduce your TV’s energy usage. If your TV does not have these settings, turn down your brightness and possibly your contrast to reduce your TV’s energy consumption.

To test your TV energy consumption knowledge, take this fun quiz by the Sierra Club.

Current Events - Time Is Running Out For Analog TV

The original deadline to switch off analog TV signals is today, Feb 17, 2009. And some broadcasters are switching to all-digital broadcasts today despite the fact that the government has delayed the mandatory shut-down of analog TV signals by 4 months.

Americans who rely on analog TV signals need a digital converter box or a new TV with a digital tuner or cable or satellite service in order to receive digital broadcasts once the changeover has been made.

More than 5.8 million US households are not ready for the analog shutdown. This is partially due to the fact that the government ran out of funds for the $40 coupons that subsidize the digital converter boxes. Presently, there is a waiting list of approximately 4 million coupons.

“In San Diego, the nation’s eighth-largest city, the ABC, CBS, Fox and CW affiliates plan to end analog broadcasts Tuesday.”

“They’ve had two years to get ready is our feeling,” said Larry Patton, general manager of KSWO-TV, an ABC affiliate in Lawton, Okla. “We feel there’s always going to be a few people who are going to wake up on the morning of Feb. 17, or June 17, or whenever it is, and not be ready.”

What will the fall out be tomorrow?

Michael Copps, the acting chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, is expecting consumer confusion. Hopefully he is mistaken and the changeover will cause little disruption in the lives of people already feeling monetary pressures. Denying anyone basic TV is a little much when people are unable to afford any other type of entertainment in these harsh economic times.

Sources:
http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090214/ap_on_hi_te/tec_digital_tv_transition
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10161954-38.html

Harmony 1100 - Remote Control Of The Future

After so many years of being stepped on, dropped, lost, found and lost again, the TV remote has finally been given a new look thanks to Logitech.

Recently introduced in Las Vegas, this flashy Harmony 1100 Advanced Universal Remote comes complete with a 3.5 inch QVGA full-color touch screen with customizable buttons so you never have to fumble for the rewind button again. It also received the CES 2009 Design and Engineering Award for Best of Innovations in Home-Entertainment Accessories.

But don’t let its fancy design fool you. This remote is designed to simplify the home entertainment experience and comes with the bells and whistles you would expect, including a guided online setup to make programming easy for even the most unsavvy.

You can get your hands on one of these babies next month for $499.99.