Shopping for a Green Home Entertainment System
Posted on May 15, 2009 - 04:21 PM
By: Amanda Kondolojy
So you’ve finally decided to buckle down and get that 50 inch HD TV with Blu-Ray DVD player and surround sound system. Great! Having a home theater is a great way to enjoy your favorite movies with friends and family, and the high definition experience is truly an amazing thing to behold. But being the Earth-conscious consumer you are, you want to create a beautiful home theater that is also energy efficient. Fortunately, this is actually very easy, especially if you keep a few tips in mind.
- Look for LCD. LCD TVs are far more energy efficient than plasma, DLP, or projection screens, and many models even have Energy star designation. Visit the Energy Star Televisions site for more on buying energy efficient TVs, as well as a list of models that are Energy Star certified (including big-name brands like Sony, Samsung, and LG.)
- Plan your lighting. One of the benefits of having an LCD TV is that the screen is non-reflective, so you won’t have to worry about natural or artificial light creating a glare. This is a good thing, because you can utilize natural light to illuminate your home theater during the day. For the evening however, try placing adjustable floor lamps at the corners of the room in order to provide soft light. And make sure to use energy efficient bulbs!
- Purchase a Smart Strip surge protector or timer. Even though you may power off your TV, sound system, and DVD player, they are still using energy! Most modern electronics simply go into a “standby” mode, which is designed to keep the device in a semi-on status so it can power on again rapidly. But while this is certainly convenient if you can’t wait a few extra seconds for your electronics to power on, it can consume several watts per hour. Plug your TV, DVD player, and sound system into the strip/timer to ensure no watts are lost when the theater is powered off.
- Consolidate. If possible, see if you can get combination sets. Many high-definition TVs come with DVD players or surround sound speakers as part of a central unit. Less individual parts will mean less overall energy consumption, which will keep your energy usage in the home theater nice and low.
- Keep your accessories to a minimum. Although it might be nice to have your Bluetooth remote and movie gallery lights, try and think if these things are really necessary. Not only will they be a drag on your power (especially if your Bluetooth remote uses a DVD outlet to charge) and will be a serious drag on the energy efficiency of your home theater.
Making your home theater setup energy efficient is fairly easy, and with a few common sense steps as well as some smart shopping you can have a home theater that not only impresses your friends, but is also energy efficient. Now you have a great excuse to have an eco-friendly movie night!
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Show/Hide Comments (2)
By Perry Peck on 10/18/2009
This is great I was looking to buy a TV and this gave me all the information I needed. Thank you for the facts I needed to help me make the right choice that is good for my planet and family.
By FOW on 02/04/2010
Thanks for explaining how the theater area can be energy efficient. Excellent work and great instructions.
