To celebrate Earth Day, we offer these five tips: 

1. Use rechargeable batteries.
   According to Tree Hugger, 15 billion batteries are produced and sold each year, and most are disposable. Few of those are recycled. Today's rechargeable batteries perform as well or better than disposable batteries and quickly pay for themselves. NiMH (nickel-metal hydride) rechargeable batteries won't lose their capacity when partially charged or discharged, so you can top them off when it's convenient. They can be recharged in as little as 15 minutes.
   
   
2. Pull the plug when your gear is not in use.
   Chargers for laptops, cell phones, MP3 players and other devices draw power, even when your gadgets aren't connected to them. Unplug your chargers or put them on a power strip and turn the strip off when everything is fully charged. Your audio/video components and TV draw power in standby mode, too. Consider pulling the plug on them, too, when you're not using them.
   
   
3. Re-use or recycle your old gear — don't trash it.
   Discarded electronic components create serious problems in landfills because of potentially harmful chemicals they contain. If an item you no longer want still works, you may be able to sell it, trade it in, or donate it. If it doesn't work, perphaps it can be repaired. If none of these options for re-use apply, then find a place to recycle it. Learn more about your options.
   
   
4. Buying a new TV? Look at our power consumption specs.
   Whether you're interested in keeping your energy bill down, or choosing an earth-friendly set, we'll show you how to factor power consumption into your purchase decision.
   
   
5. Turn down the brightness on your TV.
   You can significantly cut the power consumption of any TV just by making a few simple tweaks to the picture controls.