Power-sucking appliances part of the problem

Governments, consumers seek ways to green their entertainment

Californians have to sit a little closer to their TVs after their governor banned Plasma TVs over 40 inches wide. Daniel Schellenberg

The drive to conserve energy use was taken to a new level when California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger set out to ban plasma TVs over 40 inches wide. The move by California’s Energy Commission has the support of many environmentalists.

Alex Cox, a co-ordinator of Ecological People in Action (EcoPIA) at the University of Winnipeg, thinks the use of entertainment gadgets has become a problem in conserving energy use.

“It’s a Western world luxury that we take for granted,” said Cox. “It’s one of the many reasons that the Western world uses most of the world’s energy.”

Cox said she thinks people need to be made aware of conserving energy use.

“Everyone [should be] a little more conscious of their energy output ... because everyone uses a lot,” she said.

Ryan Auxtero, a home theatre product expert at Future Shop on St. James Street, said consumers have become more aware when it comes to the products they’re purchasing, often looking for products displaying an Energy Star symbol, which tells you if a product meets or exceeds higher energy efficiency levels.

“Recently we had some customers asking about the Energy Star rating,” said Auxtero. “The LED [TVs] are the first ones that push that.”

Auxtero said the TV the consumer buys depends on the environment it will be used in. Plasma TVs are intended for a darker room, LCD TVs for a brighter room and LED TVs are a mix between the two. According to Auxtero, LEDs have the colour quality of a plasma and generally use 40 per cent less energy.

“LED TVs will eventually be a household name like plasma TVs,” said Auxtero. “People are more energy conscious so they’re purchasing the LED because they’re jumping on that bandwagon.”

Glenn Schnider, public affairs manager with Manitoba Hydro, said he doesn’t think most people are aware of how much they’re spending on their energy bill towards the use of entertainment gadgets.

“Although consumers have the option of looking for the Energy Star symbol on products, this doesn’t tell you how much energy is used on a monthly basis,” he said.

Schnider said the use of energy with entertainment gadgets differs with different households.

“There may be household’s with several TVs on ... and others that have plasma TVs but don’t use them [as often],” Schnider said.

Cox is concerned that our society is too attached to electronics.

“We’re very addicted,” she said. “I don’t have a TV ... over time you realize the most fun things in life are non-electronics.”

Published in Volume 64, Number 10 of The Uniter (November 5, 2009)

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