LALED has 40% of its manufacturing in Houston and will continue to move up to 80% of its manufacturing to the United States over the next two years. Now, if the manufacturing plant was located in LA (Los Angeles, not Louisiana) we could ask the perennial question: "How many Californians does it take to change a light bulb?" Answer - First, they have to want to change....

Following the success of last years popular Cash for Clunker TV program, home theater retailer Diamond Case Designs, Inc. of Anaheim, CA., has organized another e-waste recycling event just in time for the holidays. This environmentally friendly program provides cash discounts toward the purchase of new eligible model Energystar TVs.

As flat panel TVs come down in price, Diamond Case has seen an increase in the number of customers replacing in their old analog TVs for new digital TVs. Rather than discarding the old TVs, which contain hazardous materials such as lead and phosphorus, into local landfills, Diamond Case has partnered with All Green Electronics Recycling to recycle and re-purpose the old TVs.  All Green guarantees that all items to be recycled will be done in accordance with their ZERO landfill policy. According to Arman Sadeghi, CEO of All Green, "All types of e-waste (electronic waste), including cell phones, laptops, computer monitors, and televisions can be recycled responsibly so their hazardous products do not end up in landfills. 

Control4, known for its affordable IP-based home control systems, is collaborating with production home builder Holmes Homes and custom integrator Safe & Sound Systems, to bring whole-home automation as a standard feature to a new development of entry-level homes.

The Holmes Technology Standard provides comfort, safety and energy efficiency as a standard package for new housing development known as Daybreak, a sustainable community located near Salt Lake City, Utah. The package includes an IP-based security system, Control4® home controller, Control4® lighting, Control4® thermostats, Kwikset® ZigBee door locks and a 2-zone distributed music system with a Control4® iPod docking station. The Control4® system has also been pre-programmed with a "Good Night" feature. A simple touch of a button closes the garage door, locks all doors and adjusts lighting and thermostat to energy efficient levels and lets residents know that the house is secure before bedtime. An Apple iPad^TM is also included with every Holmes Smart Home, allowing access to the control system from any room in the house or anywhere in the world.
 Holmes Smart Homes start at just $130,000.

Editorial comment: To answer our own question "What took you guys so long?", it clearly took a severe downturn in the construction industry for enlightened builders to begin to differentiate their housing, thereby becoming more competitive and at the same time preserving profitability. The payoff? Prospective home buyers are reportedly delighted with this automation package as a standard feature. For more information on Holmes Smart Homes visit:

Rocking outdoors with rocks

Earthquake has announced the Granite-52 outdoor speakers.

Get your rock on.

All the info, and probably more puns, after the jump.

Receivers, players, separates and more.

Marantz has announced a whole host of new products ranging from high-end separates, integrated amps, networked audio players, and receivers.

All the info after the jump.

Back Up Early. Back Up Often.

Seagate has unveiled the GoFlex Home network storage system.

With nearly all of everyone's music, photos, and soon movies existing almost solely in digital form, backing up the data is more vital than ever. Seagate promises the GoFlex Home is an easy way to do that.