I love technology and toys. I was shocked to find out the hidden cost of my media addiction.

I am a big fan of gadgets and technology toys. I geek out on my computer while watching a 52” TV without thinking a single thought about how much energy I am consuming wasting. I know, I’m late to the party. Sure, we can reduce our energy usage through conservation. And of course you can buy energy star appliances, but the fun stuff? Much more difficult. I am just not as passionate about my refrigerator as I am my home theater. The daunting thing is that the problem is continuing to grow. A recent report in Green Biz by Ariel Schwartz:

The crisp images shown on flat-screen televisions come at a cost: major strain on the power grid. Beginning in 2011, California regulators will try to ease that strain by requiring flat-screen TV retailers to sell only energy-efficient models.

That's not surprising, as LCD TVs use about 43 percent more electricity than conventional tube TVs. Plasma TVs use three times as much power as conventional sets.

There are a few forces at work that make energy inefficiency and e-waste a looming issue. The conversion from analog to digital signal will drive consumers to new sets and technologies. These new technologies are much more affordable than they were, especially in a recession. To make matters worse: the change leads to more TV’s finding there way to the landfill.

So here’s a call to my favorite consumer electronics companies: I know CES has come and gone, but maybe for next year you can get the folks down in engineering to consider energy efficiency. I know you can make a TV that is 108 inches and scans at 120hz. That’s really cool. But if we are going to lessen the residential energy usage increases, you in particular need to find ways to reduce the energy that is used to bring such brilliance to life.

Here’s a great blog chock full of good tools for calculating energy usage and tips for energy conservation. http://budurl.com/conservation