High oil prices spur demand for low energy electronics

SEOUL (Reuters) – These days when customers walk into electronics stores, the first question they ask is how much electricity the fridge, washing machine or laptop computer they are contemplating buying consumes.

“Energy savings were not exactly a hot topic among customers last year,” said Kim Dong-han at South Korean electronics retailer Hi-Mart. “But this year, nine out of ten people ask point blank whether a product will help them save money.”

“Going green is not only eco-friendly but crucial for business,” said Kim Jik-soo, a spokesman at LG Electronics Inc. “This goes beyond just products, extending throughout the development and manufacturing process.”

From washing machines that use steam instead of hot water, to fridges that use low energy compressors, to low power computer screens, electronics firms are furiously developing energy efficient products and heavily promoting lines already on the market that use less electricity than competitors’ brands.

Reuters