energy-saving devices

HP's New LCD Monitor Earns PC Mag's 'GreenTech Seal of Approval'

jplatt — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:00:00 -0400

PC Magazine has given its coveted "GreenTech Approved" seal to its first LCD monitor: the HP LP2275w.

The LP2275w is, of course, ENERGY STAR rated, which you should consider first when buying any new electronics. It also has an EPEAT Silver ranking, which means that it has a low environmental impact.

The monitor uses 52 watts of power when it's operating, and just 3 watts of power during sleep mode -- a very important energy-saving feature.

PC Mag's GreenTech seal ranks devices on energy usage, recyclability, and green certifications.

You can read a full review of this new monitor (which lists at $349) here.

New Lenovo Laptop Earns PC Magazine's GreenTech Seal of Approval

jplatt — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:04:36 -0400

I'm in the market for a new laptop, but as a responsible buyer, I want to make sure I pick a computer that uses as little energy as possible and which has been manufactured using environmentally responsible methods.

The new Lenovo ThinkPad X200 fits both of those criteria. The laptop meets Energy Star and RoHS qualifications, and gets a Silver EPEAT rating from the Green Electronics Council (which rankes energy efficiency, use of potentially toxic materials, recyclability and packaging, among other criteria).

PC Magazine tested the X200 and found more good news: its battery lasts around 6 hours, and the laptop uses just 14 watts of electricity when idle. This earned the X200 PC Magazine's "GreenTech Approved" seal.

The basic ThinkPad X200 starts shipping next month at a price of $1,199.

World's First Solar-Powered Bluetooth Headset

jplatt — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Now here's an idea whose time has come: a solar-powered Bluetooth headset.

Iqua Ltd. bills its new BHS-603 SUN as the world's first solar-powered Bluetooth headset. It's a perfect pairing of innovative technologies. Bluetooth wireless devices don't need much power, and a headset is just the right size for a solar-power collector. And since the people who wear Bluetooth headsets don't tend to do so in the dark, this is the perfect type of device to take advantage of the light around us.

Fully charged, the BHS-603 boasts up to 12 hours of talk time, and unlimited standby time in daylight. (Several regular Bluetooth headsets I looked up only hold enough power for 6 hours of talk time, so this is already an edge up for this device.)

The Iqua also includes almost the full range of features you'd expect from a Bluetooth headset. It doesn't appear to have a noise-cancelling microphone, though, which could be a downer for people who spend a lot of time in crowded coffee houses.

At just $99.99, the BHS-603 SUN is comparably priced compared to other high-end Bluetooth headsets. And it looks good enough that it just might get the people who see it talking -- even if they end up talking face-to-face.