Electronics

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Surge suppressors & power monitoring devices

With a little knowledge, you can greatly reduce your electric bills. However, the most important thing to keep in mind is that measuring your electricity usage is just the beginning. Actually reducing your usage of the most energy sucking electronics is how you will benefit from the biggest savings.

Surge suppression strips, power strips

There are now surge suppressors that shut the power to your electronics completely off to your electronics and even those with remote controls.
Cost of Implementation: Power strips are generally priced under $10. Surge protectors are generally priced between $20–$170, depending on the level of surge suppression the unit can provide and the time it takes for the unit to react to a surge, as well as other factors.

Energy monitoring device

An energy monitoring device lets you measure how much electricity is used by appliances or other devices in your home or office. It allows you to track which devices are consuming power unnecessarily or excessively, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars a year on your power bill while helping the environment at the same time.
Cost of implementation: Costs for electricity usage monitors range around as low as $30 for basic devices to more than $150 for whole home digital monitors. There are a variety of products on the market, including the Kill A Watt™ , the PowerCost Monitor™  and TED (The Energy Detective).  An excellent summary of these three devices, plus seven others, is on watthackers.com.

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Computers and monitors

Taking advantage of your computer’s power management capabilities can also help you save energy and money. Cut your energy use even more by purchasing ENERGY STAR® computers, monitors, TVs, and other electronic devices that require the latest and most efficient power management specifications.

Power management features

ENERGY STAR power management features—standard in Windows and Macintosh operating systems—place monitors and computers (CPU, hard drive, etc.) into a low-power “sleep mode” after a period of inactivity. Simply touching the mouse or keyboard “wakes” the computer and monitor in seconds. Activating sleep features saves energy, money, and helps protect the environment. 
Cost of Implementation: Power management features are available for almost all operating systems, including Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft XP and Microsoft Windows Vista. Mac users can also access instructions for power management features. See ENERGY STAR's electronics power management section for details on how to install these money-saving features.
Cost Savings: Utilizing power management features for your computer can cut electricity used by your PCs roughly in half.

ENERGY STAR - Qualified computers, monitors

Purchasing ENERGY STAR qualified computers and monitors can save even more energy and money.
Cost Savings: New ENERGY STAR efficiency specifications mean that qualified desktops can save roughly $15 in electricity annually and LCD displays will consume one-third less power than an average CRT. ENERGY STAR laptops save energy, too. 

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Used electronics

Make it a habit to recycle and reuse your old electronics. But also consider purchasing electronics that contain lower levels of toxic chemicals and materials. Consider buying from computer and electronics manufacturers that have take-back programs where they will accept and recycle their units when you’re done with them. For more information about purchasing green electronics, see the Buy Green Electronics tip.

Buying and selling used electronics

You can find top-quality, totally functional used electronics at sites like eBay and Craigslist. This not only cuts down on the amount of new resources being used for the production of more stuff, it also creates a market for sellers to safely re-circulate electronics they’re no longer using.

The British Columbia Electronics Materials Exchange lets you sell, give away or trade things you don't want with people who do, like an online garage sale. There's lots of free stuff available, plus it's good for the environment. You can also post requests for items that you need. The site works like a classified ad section and it's free to use.

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Buying green

Given the thousands of product choices, buying electronic equipment and computers can be an overwhelming task. Buying green is simply a smarter way to go. You can enjoy the latest technologies, better overall product performance and save money. 

Green certification labels

Green product design addresses things like energy efficiency, environmentally sensitive materials, product life cycle, packaging, stewardship and end-of-life recycling options.
Cost of Implementation: Green electronics do not typically cost more than non-certified electronics. In addition, you will be saving much more over the long run due to the energy savings and longer product life.
Cost savings:  ENERGY STAR products can save families up to one-third of their energy bill, with similar savings on their greenhouse gas emissions.

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Rechargeable batteries & chargers

Rechargeable batteries can offer economic and environmental benefits compared to disposable batteries. Most rechargeable battery types are available in the same sizes as disposable types. There are also a variety of battery chargers with lots of different features to meet your specific needs.

Rechargeable batteries

Rechargeable batteries are available at most specialty battery retailers throughout British Columbia, but can also be found at supermarkets, drug stores or other larger retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire or Canadian Superstore.
Cost of Implementation:  While rechargeable batteries have a higher up-front cost than disposable batteries, rechargeable batteries can be discharged and recharged many times, saving you the cost and hassle of constantly buying new disposable batteries. Four packs of AA/AAA rechargeable batteries range from $15 to $20 per pack. Lithium-ion batteries range in price from $25 for digital cameras to $80–$120 for laptops. Many batteries are sold as a combination package that includes a battery charger.

Battery chargers

Generally, the faster and more flexible a charger is, the more expensive it will be. The fastest time available is just under 60 minutes, while the average charger takes seven to 10 hours to fully charge a NiMH battery. If time is not important, choose the battery charger that offers the most features rather than the most expensive one.
Cost of Implementation: The cheapest battery charger available costs about $10, while top-quality models can cost up to $50. Lithium ion battery chargers cost $25 and up.

One feature you might consider is a “smart” charger. A smart charger contains an intelligent microprocessor that switches the charger off when the batteries are fully charged. It can also recognize how much charge is originally in the batteries and only add whatever's needed. Cheaper chargers, on the other hand, charge batteries for a fixed length of time, which can overcharge the battery and shorten its life. A simple LED is typically used to indicate when the charge cycle is complete. Smart chargers range in price from about $25 to $50.

Solar chargers are also an excellent choice and are compatible with rechargeable batteries as well as with lithium ion batteries used in things that can be charged through a USB port, such as cell phones, iPods, MP3 players or digital cameras. They are especially useful when you’re in places where there is no available electricity, like when you’re on the road or camping. Costs for solar battery chargers range from $150 to $250, but run on solar energy, a free, renewable and clean resource. 

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