Roundup: CE Brands Show Off Green Goods at Vegas Tradeshow

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ces_2009.jpgThe Consumer Electronics Show is the greenest it has ever been so far, writes Maura Judkis of Fresh Greens.

Highlights from the show:

- Toshiba unveiled the Super Charge Battery, which is touted as a longer-lasting battery with a target recharge time of 90 percent in just 10 minutes.

The company also said it has teamed up with Sharp and Panasonic to create the Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company, which will set up 280 recycling points across all 50 states. The eventual goal is to have a network of over 800 recycling points across the country, making it much easier for businesses and consumers to dispose of electronic waste, writes vnunet.com.

- LG Electronics announced that it is setting records with a new 32-inch TV which uses more than 50 percent less power than the average 32-inch LCD TV. The Korean company also showed off  a self-sustaining mobile phone stand powered by wind and solar power that can charge up to 104 handsets per hour.

LG will also be improving its U.S. recycling program by working with Waste Management Inc., writes CNET's Crave blog. It will unveil a set of global green policies called "Life's Green 2020," with the aim of reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emitted during production and the product's life cycle.

- Motorola showed off the MOTO W233 Renew, which is made using plastics comprised of recycled water bottles. The phone has also received CarbonFree Product Certification from Carbonfund.org.

- Nokia launched the Nokia N97 mobile computer device, a bluetooth Headset (BH-904) that produces five hours of talk time after 15 minutes of charging, and a mobile application called Carbon Calculator. Nokia also announced its role as a sponsor of Giant Screen Films' newest IMAX production about ocean protection.

- Samsung talked up its e-designed its next generation of TVs that use LEDs as their primary light source, rather than traditional Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFL). Samsung redesigned its plasma HDTV line to use less material and less energy, MarketWatch reports.

The company's recycling program established in Oct. '08 will continue to grow, with about 170 fixed drop-off locations across the country where it recycles branded consumer electronics products for no charge.

- Sony also boasted of new, energy-efficient televisions: The BRAVIA VE5-series have a zero-watt standby power switch, motion and light sensors that minimize energy usage, and micro-tubular Hot Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (HCFL) that cuts power consumption by almost 40 percent compared to its other LCD HDTV models.

Green features are often more important than the brand name, according to a recent study from the Consumer Electronics Association.

Environment + Energy Leader