Best Green Technology for Earth Day - Control4 Home Automation

Macs are well represented in this eco-friendly showcase and the effects individually are minimal but combined globally are astronomical.

We're big fans of smart home automation and live what others talk about. After analyzing all the systems available we chose Control4.

As advertised, Control4 Home Automation is easy and elegant. Easy for anyone in the family to use and elegant as a smart home system integration solution.

• turning off lights automatically, both timed and with motion
• lights save money on electricity by having a reduced wattage initial on state set by percentage
• security - everyone in our house knows if the garage door is open or closed with a glance
• close the garage door from work over the internet and watch the door close in real time
• heat and air conditioning setback from work or anywhere over the internet
  
• add network IP cameras and monitor cameras from work over the internet

It's easy to overlook Smart Homes and Home Automation because current systems are too expensive or hard to implement. Control4 reduces the typical expense of system upgrades because your Control4 dealer can program your devices remotely without 'rolling a truck.' 

 

The Best Green Technology for Earth Day - by PC Magazine

The Best Green Technology for Earth Day

04.22.09

For those trying to find a balance between high tech and eco-friendly devices, here are PCMag's latest Green Tech Approved laptops, desktops, screens, and drives.

by Sean Ludwig

Save-the-planet rhetoric is getting stale. We often hear about "going green", but the words aren't usually coupled with practical solutions to big problems. Take high-tech devices: We like the idea of energy efficiency, but in this age of blazingly fast gaming computers and superlarge HDTVs, many of us aren't willing to exchange high performance for low power consumption.

But there is a solution for those who want a top-notch TV or computer that's also environmentally friendly—a PCMag Green Tech Approved device. Since early 2008, we've been keeping an eye on which manufacturers, relative to their peers, have released products with lower energy requirements and fewer harmful toxins. To decide who gets Green Tech Approval, we rate a product's energy efficiency, recyclability, and the certifications it has earned.

Browse our collection of PCMag's Green Tech Approved products from the past year, from desktops and laptops to screens and drives. And for more coverage of green and eco-friendly tech (and not just on Earth Day), check out our blog GoodCleanTech.com.

Desktops

Apple iMac (Nvidia GeForce GT 130)

$2,199 list
The Apple iMac 24-inch (GeForce GT 130), the company's new top-of-the-line iMac, is a moderate refresh. The new Nvidia motherboard chipset and discrete graphics give it a leg up on the previous high-end model.

Apple iMac (Nvidia GeForce 9400M)

$1,499 list
Apple moves closer to the sweet spot with the iMac (Nvidia GeForce 9400M). This new all-in-one gives you the screen real estate you crave and strong multimedia capabilities, all for a reasonable price.

Apple Mac mini (Nvidia GeForce 9400M)

$799 list
The mini's new internals bring it up to the performance level of the Apple MacBook, and that's a good thing. It's the nettop-size desktop that's a better alternative for many users.

Dell Studio Hybrid

$874 direct
The Hybrid, one of the most design-forward PCs out there, is a competitor of the Mac mini and the HP Slimline PCs. It's stylish, compact, and unburdened by crapware.

Laptops

Acer Aspire 3935

$900 street
The sleek metallic cover, the 1-inch-thick chassis, and the sheer portability of this system are attributes that customers have been yearning for but hadn't been able to get in such a sweet deal.

Lenovo ThinkPad X301

$3,000 direct
The Lenovo ThinkPad X301 is the most impressive ultraportable in its class. Too bad only a high-paid executive can afford one.

Lenovo ThinkPad SL400

$1,129 direct
Bidding farewell to the 3000 series produced the Lenovo ThinkPad SL400—a better, faster, and more energy-efficient small-business line for Lenovo.

Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablet

$2,323 direct
If there's a tablet that can take the category mainstream, the Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablet is it.

Fujitsu LifeBook U810 (WWAN)

$1,199 direct
The Fujitsu U810 (WWAN) ultramobile PC is more accessible to the Web now that it comes with an HSDPA modem, though the $200 up-sell might turn customers off.

Toshiba Portégé M700-S7002

$1,799 direct
This convertible tablet has the processing capability and optical drive to maintain productivity at a high level.