Little Things Mean A Lot

We often think that adopting a green lifestyle demands a radical overhaul in the way we go about our daily existence. The truth is, every revolution begins at the micro level, with each of us making a choice to do the little things a little differently.

That applies as much to our entertainment systems as it does any other facet of life. It’s not necessary to level your A/V system and start again; consider instead a few simple tweaks that will make a green difference today.

The TV is often the most power-hungry component in your system, but a few menu adjustments can help.

If your projector or LCD TV has an adjustable lamp/backlight, turn it down to the lowest level that suits your viewing environment, which cuts power consumption and improves black level. Many TVs are equipped with a power-saving mode that either reduces image brightness or cuts down on standby power consumption.

Also, plug all of your non-time-sensitive electronics into a power station that you can physically turn off when you’re not using the system (make sure these products don’t lose their presets when powered off); this also reduces standby power consumption, which accounts for much of the wasted energy in an A/V system.

Many higher-end universal controllers already use rechargeable Lithium-ion or Lithium-polymer batteries; yet, if your house is anything like mine, it’s still littered with peripheral remotes that use good old-fashioned AA or AAA cells. When they die, replace any alkaline batteries with rechargeable ones to cut down on waste, and consider a solar-powered battery charger.

Companies like Silicon Solar, Silva, C.Crane, and Brunton offer solar-powered chargers, both for batteries and small handheld electronics.

If you haven’t already done so, swap out those traditional light bulbs with something that’s more energy-efficient.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs have received a lot of attention for their lower power consumption and longer lifespan; however, like all fluorescent light fixtures, these products contain mercury, and some people dislike the quality of CFL light. LED light fixtures are gaining traction, thanks to companies like Cree LED Lighting Solutions and C.Crane Company.

Cree’s 12-watt LR6 recessed down light purportedly uses 80 percent less energy than a conventional 65-watt incandescent bulb and less than half the energy of a CFL bulb. At around $100, the LR6 has a higher upfront cost, but it’s rated to last for 50,000 hours – that’s about 17 years at eight hours a day. C.Crane offers the 8-watt, 30,000-hour GeoBulb ($120), plus a number of moderately priced LED bulbs and other lighting fixtures. Check out lamprecycle.org for more info on recycling bulbs that contain mercury.

Last but not least, when the time comes to swap out a component or cable, make sure to recycle. Visit the Consumer Electronics Association’s mygreenelectronics.org Website to easily find an electronics recycling center in your area.

While each of these changes may seem insignificant on its own, imagine if every consumer and installer embraced them as standard setup procedure. Not only would it save energy now, but it would foster a green mindset that would inevitably affect future buying and design decisions. The revolution truly begins at home.