Or does it?

Green was definitely a big theme at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show this past January. Almost every major manufacturer devoted a portion of its press conference to environmental issues.

“Green” products and practices were prominently displayed at many booths.

From all of this marketing, one might assume that the consumer electronics industry has transformed itself into a model of environmental stewardship overnight. But has it?

Smart lighting control can lead to real energy savings.

Lighting control can be as addictive as a DVR. Once you’ve experienced the convenience of a well-implemented lighting control system in your home, there’s no going back. I know my enjoyment of my home theater went up dramatically just by installing a simple wireless dimmer, controlled by my universal remote.

If you feel like a lighting control system is more luxury than necessity, know that light management can lead to energy and potentially money savings as well.

2009 is a few weeks old.

So… how are you doing on those resolutions?

Let’s face it. Keeping resolutions is hard. But there is a better way!  We here at Home Entertainment have come up with a few self-promises everyone should make, and anyone can keep.

Just follow our lead after the jump…

The makings of an eco TV.

Just what is an eco TV? The phrase first appeared in 2008, brought to us by the fine folks at Philips to describe their 42PFL5603D LCD HDTV. In September, Vizio jumped aboard the eco TV train with an eco-friendly 32-inch LCD model, and I suspect we’ll be seeing even more models in years to come.

Are eco TVs truly different from “non-eco” TVs, or is this just marketing spin?

Real savings in real time.

When it comes to conservation, “real-time feedback” has become a definite buzz phrase. The idea is that consumers who have access to real-time feedback about usage and savings in areas like power, lighting, and water are more likely to change their habits.

This month, in honor of the gift-giving season, we’re going to look at three standalone energy meters.

E-waste is everyone’s problem.

The impending arrival of the analog TV cutoff date has the environmental community worried that a flood of obsolete TVs will find their way into trash bins across the nation, contributing even more to the global problem of electronic waste.

The EPA estimates that, in 2007, Americans disposed of 2.25 million tons of TVs, cell phones, and computer products, with 82 percent ending up in the landfill.

But it doesn't have to.

A smarter home can be a greener home.

As energy costs rise, do you find yourself feeling a little green-obsessed? Has your family tired of your constant needling about the lights, thermostat, and electronics usage?

Maybe it’s time to let your home do the obsessing for you.

A smart home can give you more control over your entertainment systems and reliably do the little things we may be too busy to do ourselves.

Green Team

To help companies meet state recycling requirements, Panasonic, Sharp, and Toshiba have formed the Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company, LLC (MRM).

With its mission to “bring electronics manufacturers and electronics recyclers together into long-term relationships that provide convenient recycling opportunities to consumers, MRM’s long-term goal is sustainable electronic product recycling.”

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.

Da-lite Delights in Being Green

When considering the environmental impact of various home theater products, projection screens probably aren’t the first category that we feel the need to discuss. Perhaps that’s because we tend to focus, first and foremost, on issues related to power consumption.

While energy efficiency is a hot topic, it’s not the only environmental issue that companies need to address. Recycling, the use of toxic chemicals, and air-quality issues are a few that come to mind.