Let’s face it — we love our electronics! According to ENERGY STAR, the average home has approximately two televisions, three telephones, a VCR and a DVD player. When buying these products, look for the ENERGY STAR rating before you take it back to your apartment and plug it in. The same goes for battery charging systems and home audio equipment.
The ENERGY STAR products use up to 60% less energy than other models, which results in savings — both for the environment and for you. Here is a statistic that gives a concrete example, provided by ENERGY STAR: If all DVD sales were ENERGY STAR rated, it would be like taking 75,000 cars off the road. Pretty impressive.
Consider unplugging electronic items that you don’t use very often. The digital clock and other display features use energy even when the device is off. Shutting down your computer completely rather than leaving it in standby mode is another easy way to cut down on energy use.
The ENERGY STAR Web site has a search feature that can help you search for products that meet their exacting standards. After all, living environmentally friendly doesn’t mean you have to give up your beloved gadgets, it just means buying smart and using them wisely. A little bit of advance research can help you make the right choice.