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Technology Paper Energy-Efficient Electronics Gain Momentum in the Home Introduction Technology has become an integral part of our lives. Plasma TVs, cable boxes and computers increasingly fill our homes. Growing numbers of consumers are turning to personal media centers and digital video recorders (DVRs) to store and play their favorite movies and TV shows, with consumers spending more money each year to enhance and upgrade these technologies. A recent Forrester Research survey estimates that 29 percent of GenerationX households-more than 18 million homes-own a DVR, and 32 percent own an HDTV.1 Homeowners are paying a higher balance each month on their electricity bills to fuel these "always-on," power-hungry consumer electronics. The amplified demand for electricity and rising energy costs have triggered awareness of global environmental changes among consumers, who have begun to demand that products and services-particularly technology providers-demonstrate practices that are ecologically defensible and sustainable. In November 2007, Forrester conducted a study that showed 53 percent of 5000 American consumers made up the so-called "green consumer" market-roughly equivalent to 115 million Americans.2 As homeowners embrace rich multimedia in their homes, and environmental responsibility becomes more mainstream, consumers are demanding more eco-friendly consumer electronics for the home that will minimize the impact on the environment-and their wallets. Original equipment manufacturers and hardware manufacturers can embrace this cultural shift by designing components and hardware that meet consumer demand for environmentally responsible products while offering an enjoyable home entertainment experience. 1 Forrester Releases Largest Technology Survey Of North American Consumers, Forrester Research (2008), http://www.forrester.com/ER/Press/Release/0,1769,1217,00.html. 2 Christopher Mines, Remy Fiorentino, Eric G. Brown, and Christina Lee, In Search Of Green Technology Consumers, Forrester Research (2007), http://www.forrester.com/Research/Document/Excerpt/0,7211,43729,00.html.