CEE efforts to bolster the market for efficient televisions have already made inroads. The Toshiba booth at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show, held in early January, proudly listed CEE Tier 2 qualification as one of the features of their products. Another manufacturer - Sharp Electronics - described their displays as 15 percent more efficient than ENERGY STAR, a more oblique reference to CEE Tier 2.
In addition to these explicit nods to CEE members' efforts to make their efficiency needs known, watt meters were visible throughout the show, demonstrating the efficiency of a new model over an old one or the difference between two current models.
More prevalent than ever this year were "green" promotions. Almost every major electronics manufacturer advertised their environmental bona fides in some way, including information about energy efficiency, materials use, recycling, and the presence of toxics as part of their booths. One television model from Sony featured a motion sensor that reduced energy use after a period of inactivity in the room.
The consumer electronics field is marked by rapid technical innovation, so staying abreast of new developments is a key aspect of the CEE Consumer Electronics Initiative. Attending the show enabled CEE staff to learn about new technology and how manufacturers are marketing themselves, especially in regard to energy efficiency. It also provided staff with the opportunity to meet with several leading manufacturers and others who are attending the show. Members can learn more about these developments - and discuss program approaches for this important end use - by joining the CEE Electronics Committee.
For more information about CEE's Consumer Electronics Initiative, contact Margie Lynch at mlynch at cee1.org.
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