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Posts with tag eco-friendly

Solar-powered 'guiltless green' home theater system makes your Wall-E Blu-ray very happy

by Ross Miller Apr 18th 2009 @ 11:42AM

When Home Theater Specialists of America (HTSA) executive director Richard Glikes wanted a home theater system, he didn't just max it out with the best high definition equipment. He also thought to run it entirely from solar energy from four roof-mounted panels that produce an aggregate of 700 watts per hour in sunlight. It'll reportedly run things for 19 hours straight without having to dip into your traditional power grid. Hardware-wise, we're talking about a 100-inch screen, Sharp projector, six SpeakerCraft in-wall speakers, Integra AV receiver, Lutron lighting, and a universal remote. See how it was made, with the help of time-lapse photography and 1980s infomercial-genre background music, in the video after the break.

Continue reading Solar-powered 'guiltless green' home theater system makes your Wall-E Blu-ray very happy

Klipsch touts its eco-friendly ways

by Steven Kim Apr 8th 2009 @ 11:02PM

Klipsch logoWith Earth Day right around the corner, we expect to see a flood of news about who's loving the mother Earth the most, and Klipsch is kicking things off for speaker manufacturers. While it may not be using Environmentally Friendly Substrate material for its speaker cabinets like Elemental Designs, Klipsch sill has plenty to crow about. First, Klipsch's electrically efficient speakers -- especially the mainstay horn-loaded models -- let you get more dBs per Watt, and because a 3dB difference makes for about double the perceived volume they add up quickly. But we think the real eco-value is in producing a quality product that you won't be dumping into a landfill in a couple of years. Over their lifetime, your speakers might be the most ecologically benevolent piece of gear in your AV setup.

California TV energy efficiency proposal details revealed

by Richard Lawler Mar 30th 2009 @ 11:36PM


Whether one sides with the California Energy Commision's idea of restricting sales of the most power hungry displays on the market or with the CEA and think this is as silly as shunning black auto paint, there's plenty more to learn about the two tiered system that could go into effect January 1, 2011. A vote isn't slated until the summer so you've got plenty of time to review the formulas and do the math. Hopefully plasma manufacturers have been working on those super thin eco designs, they may be needed on store shelves sooner than previously expected.

[Via Wired]

Samsung begins production on edge-lit LED-backlit HDTV panels

by Darren Murph Mar 26th 2009 @ 8:59PM


Samsung's being a bit ambiguous with this one, but we won't deny that we're drooling pretty heavily over these new panels. Said outfit has just revealed that mass production has begun on the industry's first "ultra-slim LCD panels suited for large size TVs," and while we're wondering what exactly it means by that, we can't help but appreciate the attributes. We're told that the unique edge-lit LED backlighting offers lighter weight and thinner designs compared to standard direct-lit LED LCDs, and moreover, a 55-inch Samsung HDTV with edge-lit LED backlighting "uses up to 40 percent less power than conventional LCD TVs." The panels measure just 0.42-inches thick and are being produced in 40-, 46- and 55-inch sizes. We're still waiting to hear back from Sammy on whether these are the same ones used in the energy-efficient LCD HDTVs announced at CES or new models altogether, but 'til then, you can feel free to start digging in the couches for spare pennies.

California considers ban on energy devouring TVs

by Darren Murph Mar 25th 2009 @ 3:02PM


It's a bandwagon that's easy to hop on, and it's got HDTV owners and technologists alike in The Golden State buzzing. Reportedly, the California Energy Commission is "considering a proposal that would ban California retailers from selling all but the most energy-efficient televisions," a move that could knock up to 25 percent of current TVs from store shelves. Needless to say, the CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) and its supporters are up in arms over the whole idea; after all, most manufacturers have already voluntarily complied with the newfangled Energy Star 3.0 standard. The commission calculates that buying a set meeting its proposed standards would save between $18 and $30 per year (per set) in energy costs, which would definitely add up state-wide. Honestly, we envision this fizzling out within the next few weeks, but we've definitely seen crazier things passed.

[Thanks, Garrett]

Sharp debuts AQUOS A series LCD HDTVs in Japan

by Darren Murph Mar 23rd 2009 @ 9:59AM


Sharp already introduced us to its BD and E series at CES this year, but this here A team is something different. Debuting first in Japan, this threesome is comprised of the 52-inch LC-52AE6, 46-inch LC-46AE6 and 40-inch LC-40AE6, all of which sport 1,920 x 1,080 resolutions and a digital TV tuner. The whole crew also includes 120Hz de-judder technology, a 15,000:1 contrast ratio, 450 nits of brightness and 176-degree viewing angles. Moreover, each one features an integrated ambient light sensor to adjust the backlight automatically depending on surrounding light, and they also pack a pair of stereo speakers in case your surround rig is currently out of order. The larger two are expected to ship on May 15th, while the small fellow heads out on April 10th; as for pricing, we're hearing ¥390,000 ($4,048), ¥260,000 ($2,698) and ¥200,000 ($2,076) from largest to most diminutive.

[Via Impress]

Gallery: Sharp debuts AQUOS A series LCD HDTVs in Japan

BlueStar looks to expand Blu-ray disc production and promote its Blue Book format

by Steven Kim Jan 30th 2009 @ 7:42PM

BlueStar and BlueRay logos We've tried to look past the naming train wreck that is BlueStar Technologies ("blue" instead of "blu," known as "Blue Ray Technologies" in Spokane), but would a little consistency be too much to ask for? Anyways, the Blu-ray manufacturer is on a bit of a tear. Looking to spend down its latest cash infusion, it has announced plans to open up a plant in Rome and is eying a second US location in either California or Montana. The company is touting its eco-friendly processes, which is all well and good, but it's the Project Blue book hybrid disc that really intrigues us. BlueStar is touting its new format as pirate-proof, with faster transfer and larger capacity, so what's not to like? Well, besides the fact that we've seen "pirate-proof" promises go down in flames, we're not so sure that what Blu-ray needs is another format.

AT&T gets proud: 100% of U-verse TV STBs meet or beat Energy Star requirements

by Darren Murph Jan 25th 2009 @ 12:16AM


It's hard to know how many other pay-TV providers could say this very same thing but are simply choosing not to brag, but AT&T's holding nothing back in its latest release. The operator has proudly come forward and proclaimed that 100 percent of its U-verse TV receivers meet or exceed Energy Star efficiency requirements, and all new Motorola and Cisco set-top-boxes will boast the accompanying Energy Star label. Not trying to stroke your ego or anything, AT&T, but way to be green.

DisplaySearch sez 50% of flat-panels will be "green" by 2011

by Darren Murph Jan 23rd 2009 @ 12:24AM


While many TV makers have rushed to announce that their future sets were Energy Star 3.0 compliant, there's apparently quite a few manufacturers out there with aways to go in the eco-friendly department. A new report from DisplaySearch has it that in 2008, just 20% of flat-panel display shipments had "green features," while that percentage should rise to 50% by 2011 and 70% by 2012. So, just what does a set have to do to be classified as "green?" It needs to meet one of the following conditions: use environmentally friendly components and materials, achieve lower power consumption by using new components or technologies, be compliant with environmental regulations such as waste disposal, use production processes that reduce energy and materials consumed, be completely or partially recyclable after useful life or use green or eco-friendly concepts in product design. Seriously, just one of those? Not too high a hurdle, guys.

[Via CEPro]

Pioneer responds to recent plasma ban reports with more of the same

by Darren Murph Jan 19th 2009 @ 10:11AM


Just last week, a report in the DailyMail got everyone worked up over the possibility of certain plasmas being barred from sale in Europe. Now, Pioneer is passing along a response made by the European Information & Communications Technology Industry Association that seems to say more of the same. We quote: "According to the pertinent EU Directive a technology such as plasma cannot be banned from the market as long as the TV sets (using this technology) comply with energy efficiency requirements." That said, the EU and its member states are still hard at work on new regulations to ensure improved energy efficiency across all display technologies, and we're told that "all manufacturers will be required to meet these minimum efficiency standards in order to continue producing, importing and selling TV sets in Europe." So maybe we're way off base, but is this not confirmation of what we'd already heard?

[Via HDTVLounge]

Sky software update brings along automatic standby feature

by Darren Murph Jan 18th 2009 @ 8:08PM


In an effort to lower subscriber energy bills as well as throw Mother Earth a bone, Sky is reportedly rolling out a software update to its set-top-boxes that will enable an automatic standby feature. In short, the update will force boxes that go unused for four hours during the day into standby, and that grace period gets cut in half (to two hours, for the mathematically challenged) at night. The update will supposedly hit all nine million or so Sky boxes by July, and the company estimates that the move will reduce its carbon footprint by around 90,000 tonnes each year. A little standby goes a long way, huh?

[Thanks, Martin]

Power-guzzling plasmas could be barred by EU

by Darren Murph Jan 12th 2009 @ 6:48PM


While most of the plasmas these days aren't exactly energy guzzlers, some of the earlier models were notorious for eating up power at an alarming rate. According to a writeup in The Daily Mail, legislation could be passed by the EU this Spring that would bar those panels from being sold. A spokesman of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has already affirmed that more "eco-friendly" PDPs will remain on store shelves, though it's still unclear what exactly the cutoff will be in terms of energy usage. Granted, none of this should take anyone by surprise -- after all, it'll soon be difficult to find any sets in the US that don't sport that oh-so-important Energy Star 3.0 logo.

[Thanks, Isaac]

Panasonic talks up ultrathin NeoLCD / NeoPDP displays

by Darren Murph Jan 8th 2009 @ 1:12AM


Panasonic's NeoPDP plasma was lookin' mighty good on display today, and now we've got the nitty-gritty straight from the horse's mouth. The company's NeoPDP and NeoLCD technology showcases its latest advances in ultrathin, highly energy efficient displays. If you're looking for wow, the 37-inch NeoLCD has the lowest energy consumption of any LCD HDTV in the world, and the 0.33-inches thick 50-inch NeoPDP is really just 0.33-inches thick. 0.33-inches. Sadly, there's nary a mention of a productization date, so we suggest you just pretend that never heard of all of this awesomeness until that status changes.

Sony's BRAVIA VE5 series brings zero-watt standy, HCFL backlighting

by Darren Murph Jan 7th 2009 @ 7:45PM


During the run-up to CES, we heard through the grapevine that eco-friendly and well-connected HDTVs were going to be all the rage in early January, and so far, those premonitions are spot on. Sony's new BRAVIA VE5 line sucks down around 40% less power than many of the company's other LCD HDTV models, and there are two main developments to thank. First, the 52-inch KDL-52VE5, the 46-inch KDL-46VE5 and the 40-inch KDL-40VE5 all tout a zero-watt standby switch, which -- when flipped on -- cuts power usage to "nearly zero watts." Additionally, this Energy Star 3.0-compliant trifecta is the first from Sony to sport the micro-tubular Hot Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (HFCL), and as if that wasn't enough, there's even a motion sensor that can turn the set off if no action is sensed and a ambient light sensor for good measure. All greenness aside, each of the three also boasts Motionflow 120Hz technology, a USB port for loading up digital media files, the BRAVIA Engine 2, BRAVIA Sync, four HDMI inputs and 24- True Cinema. Check 'em this summer for currently undisclosed prices; full release is after the break.

Continue reading Sony's BRAVIA VE5 series brings zero-watt standy, HCFL backlighting

Officials urging new TV buyers to not junk their analog sets

by Darren Murph Dec 21st 2008 @ 2:57AM


Earlier this week we discussed the pros and cons of picking up a new digital tuner-equipped TV or simply throwing a DTV converter onto the analog set you already own. Needless to say, quite a few individuals across America will be choosing the former option, which creates quite the issue: where are all of those old sets going to go? Early on, surveys showed that people were most likely to resell it, donate it or recycle it, but we all know how easy it is to utter the politically correct response when under the microscope. In reality, there's a great chance that a large quantity of analog TVs will end up in the dump, and officials are making an eleventh hour push to encourage individuals to recycle their screen rather than clog up a nearby landfill. Given that we live here too, we'd also like to encourage the act of recycling if you're planning on ditching the old for something new -- wouldn't want the DTV conversion to be the start of the Apocalypse or something.




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