Americans spend thousands of dollars on their energy bills each year, contributing not only to increased financial pressure, but also to greater carbon emissions. While heating and lighting are the biggest contributors to high energy bills, electronic devices are starting to take an even bigger chunk out of household expenses. With people buying up ever larger TV sets and more and more gadgets to make their lives more efficient and entertaining, these gadgets are having a detrimental impact on both wallets and the environment. Fortunately, however, many electronic companies are responding to this problem by offering products that are increasingly energy efficient. This article looks at how electronic devices sap so much energy, and how the industry is responding through greater energy efficiency.
How electronics eat up energy
The world is becoming increasingly more wired. People are buying larger TV sets, along with DVD players and game consoles, higher performing computers and laptops, and mobile phones with an array of built-in functions. While these devices are making peoples’ lives more connected and fun, they are also contributing to increased energy waste. TVs, in particular, are one of the worst culprits when it comes to energy consumption. As the demand for larger, more high-definition TV sets increases, households are spending hundreds of dollars a year on their entertainment devices whereas before they would have spent only tens of dollars. Additionally, while computers are not the worst culprits of energy waste, for those that leave them in standby mode, the energy bill from such products can quickly add up. Given that computers also emit heat, air conditioning has to work an extra bit harder during the hot summer months in order to counteract that heat. Finally, while many people don’t think of their smartphones as being big energy drainers (they are battery-powered, after all), as these smartphones become capable of even greater functions, they need to be recharged more often. Recharging these devices adds quite a bit onto a household’s energy bill that often gets overlooked by consumers.
What is to be done?
All of this energy waste means that electronic devices will need to be more energy efficient in the future. Fortunately, however, as consumers focus more on both their wallets and the environment, many companies are responding with more energy efficient measures. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program has been a great success in getting electronics manufacturers to create more energy efficient devices. Furthermore, largely with the help of utility companies, which can be found through the Pearland Reliant Energy site, these measures have become stricter through the years. Nowadays, thousands of manufacturers comply with these standards, allowing consumers to make smarter choices when it comes to electronics. In addition, many manufacturers are introducing devices that are specifically designed for the energy conscious consumer. TVs, for example, are now being manufactured with power saving modes built in.
Electronic gadgets, like TVs and computers, have long been at the center of the American household. As these gadgets have become bigger and capable of ever more functionalities, however, their power consumption has likewise increased. As such, energy efficient electronics will become an important factor for consumers looking to save not just the planet, but the money in their wallets.
Article by Michele Duchet who is a tech expert. He frequently shares his top tips for smart technology advancements on consumer blogs.
