Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Wednesday, 04 June 2008 12:20
Opinion and Analysis
Page 2 of 3
CHOICE says that the Australian Federal Government has merely “discussed” introducing an energy-efficiency star label scheme for computers and monitors, which would presumably include games consoles.
But as is the case with a lot of Government initiatives, politicians and their staff are merely talking about it, with any firm requirements completely non-existent.
CHOICE says the energy-efficiency star ratings should be mandatory and introduced into Australia, so consumers can make better choices and indeed encourage manufacturers to create products that are environmentally friendly and use ever lower levels of power.
Another stark example of the high electrical cost of modern technology is exposed when comparing the electrical running costs of an old fashion CRT television against a plasma television.
Now, while plasma TV manufacturers have been moving towards making much more energy efficient units, the vast majority of existing screens are very power hungry. Leave your old fashioned CRT television on all year, nonstop, and it will cost you AUD $51 in electricity usage.
Pull the same stunt with your plasma TV, and it’ll cost a whopping AUD $232 – and that doesn’t include the cost of your DVD player, your sound system or anything else you have plugged into your TV and always left on.
CHOICE even seem to have answered the age old question about whether you should leave your computer on all the time or not... and have found a reason for Mac users to keep on being smug! Please read on to page 3.
