Shopping for electronics
DVDs, TVs and other home electronics are popular holiday gifts. In addition to price and features, there's one more important aspect to consider when you're out shopping for audio and video components -- the ENERGY STAR® label.
Audio and video equipment that have earned the ENERGY STAR use as much as 50% less energy to perform their normal "off" functions, while providing the same performance at the same price as less-efficient models. Americans spend more money to power home entertainment systems when they are turned off than when they are in use. Earning the ENERGY STAR means a product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.
By choosing ENERGY STAR, you are helping to promote cleaner air without sacrificing the product quality and performance you expect. If just half of all home electronic products sold in the U.S. each year were ENERGY STAR qualified, it would be equivalent to taking about one million cars off the road.
The ENERGY STAR logo, which has been placed on qualifying household appliances and lighting for the past few years, now appears on energy-efficient DVDs, audio components, satellite receivers, Internet access devices, video game systems, computers and much more.
Which models qualify for the ENERGY STAR mark? Ask your salesperson, or before you head to the mall or electronics store, go to www.energystar.gov, choose Products, select Home Electronics and click on the Find an ENERGY STAR Qualified New Home Electronics Product. You can search for qualified models by product or by brand.
