Consumption, Consumption, What's Your Function? - Electronics

NOTE: With winter upon us, In the Loop with DotLoop has designated the next month as Home Energy Month and will feature articles on how you can reduce your home's energy consumption through simple steps. DotLoop is dedicated to making every aspect of the home buying and owning experience as eco-friendly as possible.

I'm sure your garbage man hates you this week. The presents have been unwrapped and the trash bags are piling up on the curb and now, your garbage man cannot help but cringe as he drives down street after street of empty Barbie boxes and discarded white elephant gifts. "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" plays tauntingly through his head as he grips another over-flowing trash can and lunges it into the back of the truck.

Meanwhile, across town, the executives at the electric company are pouring through boating catalogs as they anticipate their post-Christmas boom thanks to little things called gadgets.

Gadget Gold

Earlier this month, we started off our "Winter of Dis-Consume" by explaining how keeping devices plugged into your wall wastes energy and costs money. Now that the holidays are behind us, all of those gadgets you got need to be plugged in and charged.

ENERGY STAR

One of the easiest ways to save energy and money with your home electronics is to simply buy ENERGY STAR products. They work just as good as their energy-sucking counterparts and can shave up to 90% of the energy costs to run them.

Desktop Dithering

As mentioned briefly this past September, simply switching from a desktop to a laptop can save you up to 80% of the cost of running a computer from your home. Laptops also make for great portable devices, allowing you the convenience of taking your work with you wherever you go.

Unplug

It can't be said enough: unplug what you're not using. Even if you buy the newest laptop, with the best ENERGY STAR battery, keeping it plugged in when it's not in use still wastes electricity. Unplug every thing you're not using, or better yet, use a power strip.

Recycle Those Beta Players

Have you gone Blu-Ray this year? Done with that Zune of yours? Recycle your old electronics by finding a local recycling center here, or have a yard sale. After all, one man's Salad Shooter is another man's food dehydrator. Either way, you're looking at some gourmet cooking.