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Vegas Consumer Electronics Show set to go green

The world's largest consumer electronics trade show is going green, showcasing earth-friendly technology while offsetting its own carbon footprint at the massive the Las Vegas event.

The Consumer Electronics Show that officially begins tomorrow will feature for the first time a "Sustainable TechZone" dedicated to "pioneering technologies that benefit the environment and sustainability of the global economy."

Innovations in the TechZone will include voltaic solar-power generating backpacks and messenger bags made from recycled plastic soda bottles.

Solar panels embedded in bags produce four watts of power in full sunlight, pumping enough electricity into lithium battery packs in an hour to power an iPod for three hours or 90 minutes of talk time on a typical mobile telephone.

Control4 and other firms specializing in automating homes will display computerized systems that reduce the amount of energy wasted in cooling, heating or lighting residences or by televisions and other entertainment electronics.

"In short, they will address how the smart-home ecosystem is good for the world's ecosystem," a CES organizer said.

"As an ecosystem for digital home automation continues to develop, these companies are making major contributions that empower homeowners to take control of their own household environmental footprint and manage it more effectively."

US Environmental Protection Agency officials will preside over a new CES "Sustainability 101" seminar focused on greener product designs and energy efficiency.

"This session also highlights the work of companies successfully creating programs for consumers to donate or recycle technology products so hazardous materials do not end up in landfills," the CES said in a release.

To keep the environment in the minds of attendees, show workers will produce a "Greening CES" television program and broadcast it to their hotel rooms.

CES organizers vow to reduce and offset the carbon footprint made by the event, which features nearly 3,000 exhibitors and fills the cavernous Las Vegas Convention Center.

"We will do so by reducing energy consumption, increasing our recycling efforts, improving efficiency where possible, and making strides toward offsetting our unavoidable emissions," said CES chief executive Gary Shapiro.

The technology industry has "an opportunity to be a positive force for change and integral to environmental solutions that will ensure future generations inherit a healthy planet," he said.

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), which puts on the show, has arranged with Carbonfund.org to offset the estimated 20,000 tonnes of carbon attributable to CES.

Investing in renewable energy, reforestation and energy conservation programs will be used to offset the carbon footprint, CEA said.

Kiosks on the show floor will let attendees connect with Carbonfund to offset the greenhouse gases spewed by the jets that carried them to Las Vegas.

"Kudos to the International CES for taking positive steps to help the environment," said Carbonfund executive director Eric Carlson.

CES has gone so far as to work with vendors in Las Vegas to get them to use biodegradable food containers and utensils, donate surplus food to local charities, and use recycled paper and soy-based ink for literature.

At the request of CES, the Las Vegas Convention Center will use non-hazardous cleaning solvents and recycle light-bulbs, batteries and electronics from the event.

Cloaked in earth-friendly green, the annual show will be a stage for electronics makers large and small from around the world to show off innovations from flat-screen televisions to in-car entertainment systems.

The array of industry heavyweights attending CES includes Intel, Sony, Samsung, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Philips, Toshiba, and Sanyo.

Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang will be among the speakers and Microsoft legend Bill Gates was to give a keynote speech today, on the eve of the official opening of the world's largest consumer electronics trade show.
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