Bigger Isn't Better: Choosing TVs and Computers

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For an energy-sipping TV that rated "very good" at CNET, check out Sharp's 20-inch LC-20B8U-S LCD ($650; www.amazon.com) which only costs $13/year to run and contains no added deca-BDE (though Sharp's recycled plastics may contain some). Next up in size is Viewsonic's 32-inch N3250W LCD which consumes $46/year in energy ($945; www.amazon.com). When it comes to much bigger screens, your most energy efficient (as well as space and cost efficient) option is a projector such as Panasonic's PT-AE900U ($2,300; www.buy.com), which provides high-definition images up to 14.5-feet wide and uses 180 watts (while plasma TVs can use almost 400 watts).

Computers

The race to keep up with the latest, largest, fastest computers is both expensive and wasteful. The greenest choice for computers is to upgrade your existing machine. Helping you do that is a new service at www.upgradedetect.com which runs an applet on your machine to determine specific upgrades you might choose to boost your RAM, hard drive, CD or DVD-drive. While they sell their own products, no purchase is necessary to use their service.

As it does with televisions, Energy Star only measures computer energy use in standby mode (allowing more than 90 percent of today's computers to carry the label), though it should measure on-power usage by July 2007. Instead, when buying a new machine, look for models selected by the EPA's Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), which is largely based on European standards, called Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). These come in EPEAT Bronze and Silver ratings (so far no models have earned a Gold rating), evaluated according to 51 environmental criteria, 23 of which are required and 28 optional. Required criteria include meeting RoHS standards (restrictions on cadmium, mercury, lead, hexavalent chromium and some brominated flame retardants), incorporating a minimum of 65 percent reusable or recyclable components, a takeback service and the reduction or elimination of toxics in packaging. Silver and bronze models both meet all the required criteria, but silver must also meet half the optional ones. (Except for the Earth-PC and SWEDX products, all desktops, laptops and monitors below are silver.) Also, the utility-funded 80 PLUS program is working to make computer power supplies 80 percent more power efficient; when purchasing a desktop, look for the 80 PLUS label.

But what will you do with your old machine? Dell will have "far and away the best takeback program, once their new policy is enacted," says Barbara Kyle of the Computer Takeback Campaign, adding, "They just recently announced they will take back any Dell products whether or not you're buying a new one." HP will also take other companies' machines, giving customers a coupon towards future purchases. Kyle also advises donating to local non-profits that accept computers. If a local program doesn't exist, she says some Goodwill locations will accept donated machines, as do the National Cristina Foundation (www.cristina.org) or Computers for Schools (www.pcsforschools.org). Old machines should be donated promptly to avoid their becoming completely outmoded.