ENERGY STAR Releases Podcasts on Consumer Electronics

We all love gadgets, and as prices for consumer electronics continue to drop, devices such as cell phones, DVRs, and PDAs appear in more and more American homes. In 1980, consumer electronics accounted for about 5% of our total home energy use; now, these products consume closer to 13% of the electricity we use. The US Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR program has produced a three-part series of podcasts on the growth of consumer electronics, and what that means for energy consumption trends. Host Andrew Fanara, a staff member at ENERGY STAR, talks to a variety of experts about these devices, their environmental impact, and actions consumers can take to save energy while still enjoying the benefits of electronics.

The first podcast features Fanara in conversation with Paul O' Donovon of London's Gartner Group, a technology research firm, and Jeremy Kaplan, the executive editor of PC Magazine. Part Two features Edi Lau of the Sacramento Bee, and Noah Horowitz of the NRDC. The third broadcast (not yet released) features Horowitz and Mark Sharp of Panasonic discussing "practical ways to reduce energy use without giving up the products that you love." All three podcasts are engaging, and topics range from efficiency in use and design of electronic products, to decreasing "vampire power" in the the home, to the impact of these gadgets on global climate change. While purchasing ENERGY STAR products comes through as one simple way to save energy and money, listeners will leave with a range of strategies for lowering their electric bill and lightening their footprint. ::ENERGY STAR Podcast