Being a Global Change Savvy Consumer   
ELECTRONICS

If you choose this category to investigate, you could explore the range of choices you have in the purchase of different types of electronic products such as:  televisions, dvd players, computers, printers, etc.  For many of these, there are "green" energy efficient choices available.

Here's a video clip  that ties this topic to global change:   Video: High-Tech Energy Hogs

  • If you want to recommend a consumer choice or product based on the question you pose or criteria that you devise here are some suggestions:



"During testing, we measure each TV’s power use when it’s on and off (also known as standby mode. Then we calculate power consumption based on typical daily viewing—on for 8 hours and off for 16 hours. It’s no big surprise that the bigger the screen, the more electricity a TV will use. But you might not know that plasma TVs typically use more energy than LCDs."                     Source: Consumer Reports Oct 2008, p 23.

By doing some "window shopping" online or in electronics stores you can evaluate the power consumption differences between different styles of TVs and set up a rating system that will aid a consumer in making the best "GC savvy" choice for a TV.  The U.S. Government's Energy Star website rates televisions.

The following overview article seeks to help you "navigate the upcoming switch from analog to digital television signals in the greenest way possible"  (from Co-op America's Real Money newsletter): Green and Climate-Friendly Television [pdf]

  • Computers / printers comparison:  In general, desktop computers use more energy than laptops, but how much more?  And is this the same from brand to brand?  For your GC savvy assignment you could do a comparison using the info from the Energy Star website (or similar reference source) and incorporate power consumption information with other criteria important to you in the choice of a computer (e.g., does the manufacturer have a recycling program for outdated machines, used ink cartridges or toner, etc.)
     

  • Comparison of other types of electronics:  The Energy Star website rates many different home electronics products.  Use it to set up your own product comparison, as suggested above for televisions or computers.
     

  • Evaluation of the energy efficiency of your own electronics with Kill A WattTM:   By connecting appliances to the Kill A Watt™ device, it will assess how efficient they really are.  Dr H has a Kill A Watt™ device which she will loan out  for a couple days on a first come first serve basis. Compare the electronic appliances you own now with newer models to see if there will be an energy  savings by purchasing a newer product. 


DATA & INFORMATION COLLECTION

Spend some extended time scanning through the LINKS below to see what kind of data and information are available on the web to help you decide what kind of comparison you want to do: 
  LINKS for CONNECTING YOUR ELECTRONICS CHOICES & GLOBAL CHANGE

 

BONUS POINT OPPORTUNITY:  After you've done your own homework and background reading at the links below,  do a bit of field work in a "big box" store or a specialty electronics store and ask the sales people some questions about energy efficiency of their products.  Observe how informed they are about the subtleties of differences in power consumption, impact on the environment, etc.  

Then document your research in a reprot, slide or video  about what (if anything) you learned by talking with the sales people about power consumption and their products.
                      


  SOME LINKS for CONNECTING YOUR ELECTRONICS CHOICES & GLOBAL CHANGE -- There are many other websites addressing this topic -- use these as a starting place!

General Electronics Comparison Information

  • EfficientProducts.org - "your source for the latest facts, figures, and research on the energy efficiency of consumer products"  http://efficientproducts.org/

Televisions

Computers / Desktop / Laptops

Other