According to the CIA World Factbook, the United States is only 4.5 percent of the world’s population. However, we consume 22.6 percent of all the electricity produced in the world—a statistic that does not sound very environmentally responsible or “green.”
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In this world of ever-advancing technology, purchasing the right electronics can make a huge difference in our average electrical consumption. However, consumers must be on guard when looking for environmentally-friendly products. A recently developed advertising method known as “greenwashing” is a way for companies to capitalize on the green market by implying their product is energy efficient or is made in an earth-friendly manner. The problem is that the company lures consumers in with their claims whether the product is environmentally beneficial or not. In fact, TerraChoice, an environmental marketing agency, found that 98 percent of the 2,219 products it reviewed were guilty of greenwashing in one form or another. Every day, the electronics we use may be costing us more than we think—both financially and environmentally.
One large part of greenwashing is leading the consumer to believe that the product is more energy efficient than alternative products. Fortunately, this form of greenwashing is fairly easy to spot. When looking into electronics, you can easily find the amount of electricity consumed by looking for the numbers of watts or amps used. This information will usually be labeled on the back, side or bottom of the appliance. If you can’t find the information on the actual product, a quick Internet search should help. If only amps are given, multiply by 120 volts to find the equivalent number of watts, because most U.S. electricity is 120 volts. Because most electronics do not consume at a constant rate, the number will usually indicate the maximum wattage used, and is given in a per hour rate. Therefore, if you use a 250-watt electronic device and you pay 10 cents per kilowatt-hour, the power company will charge you 2.5 cents for every hour you operate it.
Another misconception about electronics is that almost all new products are more efficient than their older counterparts. This is not necessarily true. Let’s take televisions for example. If you’re looking to upgrade from that old 19-inch cathode ray tube (CRT) television, you’ll probably look into a liquid crystal display (LCD) television—something that seems more energy-efficient than your old bulky TV. The 19-inch CRT uses about 55-90 watts, and while an LCD television of similar size uses only 40-50 watts, you’re probably going to want something bigger. As LCD screens get bigger, the TV’s power consumption skyrockets. Upgrading to 32 inches? That’s 125 watts. Going bigger with 42 inches? That will be 210 watts. And if you’re thinking about an efficient plasma television, forget it. These are the most power-hungry of all televisions; larger models can consume over 300 watts. If you’re going to go big with a new TV, at least look for an EnergyStar® logo. This only compares products of similar size, but anything with the logo will be using at least 30 percent less energy than its counterparts.
Not all green advertisements are deceiving. When Sony unveiled the newest PS3 Slim, Sony boasted that the new hardware used 34 percent less power than the bulky original PS3 while in use and 70 percent less while on standby. The original PS3 consumed over 200 watts while running a game—a value comparable to a 42-inch LCD TV. Of course, when Sony published these claims, third parties challenged them. Surprisingly, an investigation found that Sony was actually conservative in their energy estimates. In reality, the PS3 Slim uses about 50 percent of the power compared to the original console when it’s performing any task.
Aside from spending money on green products, there are numerous ways you can conserve electricity around the house. One such action involves stopping vampire power draw. Your television, phone charger, PS3 and computer are all drawing power while plugged in, though they may be turned off. Some do this to maintain a quick start up, power an internal clock or they simply lack an off switch. This vampire power draw is perhaps the worst type of wasted energy; the electric draw is little, but the power is used for absolutely nothing. It is the epitome of needless energy consumption, and we are all guilty of it. To prevent this electricity waste, devices like power strips can be used to easily cut power to devices while not in use. You can even buy “smart” power strips that can tell when an appliance is off to automatically cut its power.
Another green move is recycling your old electronics. When it comes time to get rid of your beloved phone or aging computer, don’t just throw it away. Put it on Craig’s List or Freecycle, as you can even get some money for old products on these sites. If all else fails, recycle it. Check out mygreenelectronics.org to find nearby electronic recycling facilities.
Finally, it’s important to remember that energy-efficiency is only half the battle. Just because your new toy uses less juice does not mean it was made in a very environmentally sound method. The glass in CRT televisions can contain up to five pounds of lead and a lot of LCD screens contain mercury. The environmental aspects of the manufacturing processes for the products you may buy are complex and difficult to sift through. You can check out epeat.net, which compares selected electronics by their environmental impact such as the use of heavy metals and toxic compounds in the making of the parts.
The most important thing to do is not to take a company’s claim at face value. Do your research before making that purchase. The energy you save will be money in your pocket and will help save the earth as well. Being green doesn’t necessarily mean spending big bucks. Just buy the most efficient products for your lifestyle, keep an open ear and a watchful eye to new manufacturing processes and unplug that phone charger!