Think small, save big: ENERGY STAR lighting and electronics

Want some quick and easy ways to save energy at home this spring? Look for the ENERGY STAR label on a wide range of home lighting and electronics — and take small steps that can add up to big energy savings.

HOME LIGHTING
Kitchen ceiling lights, living-room table and floor lamps, and outdoor lighting are among the most-used home fixtures. Replace them with ENERGY STAR-qualified lighting, and you'll use 75 percent less energy with light bulbs that last up to 10 times longer.

HOME ELECTRONICS
Choose ENERGY STAR-qualified products and you'll reduce power use by up to 60 percent while getting all the latest features. ENERGY STAR qualifies these and other products:

• Computer products, including desktop and notebook (or laptop) computers, game consoles, integrated computer systems, desktop-derived servers, and workstations. Under new specifications, these products are expected to save consumers and businesses more than $1.8 billion in energy costs during the next five years. They could also prevent greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual emissions of 2.7 million vehicles.

• Cordless phones and answering machines that use about one-third less energy than conventional units with energy-saving features such as switch-mode power supplies and "smart" chargers.

• DVD players that use as little as one-quarter of the energy of standard models and have all the latest features,including progressive scan.

• Home audio products, including CD players, receivers, speakers and home theater systems that use about 6 percent less energy than standard models.

GO DIGITAL, GO GREEN
U.S. TV broadcasts will become digital-only on Feb. 17, 2009. Consumers with analog TVs who do not subscribe to cable or satellite services will need a digital-to-analog converter box (DTA) in order to continue receiving television broadcasts. A range of retailers will sell an estimated 22 million DTAs beginning in late 2008.

If you're in the market for a DTA, look for the ENERGY STAR label. If all DTAs met the ENERGY STAR specification, Americans could save approximately 13 billion kwh and $1 billion in energy costs over the life of the products.