Annual Las Vegas Electronics Show Getting A Bit More Green

This year's International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, which runs Jan. 6-9, has a definite green tint.

Electric vehicles get their own space - about 3,500 square feet - and major car makers will be showcasing their latest EV products.

Eco friendly and energy-efficiency/storage innovations also will have a strong presence among the 2,500 companies attending, according to the show's Web site. In fact, this is a particularly smart show - as in Smart Grid, Smart appliances and Smart phones.

Here's a Green guide to the program from Earth2Tech, and a flip through the conference program finds workshops on everything from Smart Grid homes to Smart phones and laptops that remotely control thermostats and other systems in your house. Such programs allow homeowners to better control their energy use while away.

Of course, many of the cool gadgets on display at the show consume more electricity. Thus, this year's event will feature a workshop on green technology that helps measure and control power use.

The green advancements don't stop with the exhibits and workshops. The organizers of the annual event are taking steps to become more environmentally friendly. Among them:

• Last year, 68% of the total solid waste generated by show attendees was recycled;


• Diverts all light bulbs used by the show from landfills, as well as batteries and other electronics products;


• New this year, all TechZone pods, hardwall and turnkey booth packages will include recyclable carpet and recyclable backwall and counter panels;


• Printed all attendee flyers and literature on recycled paper using soy ink;


• Last year at the 2010 International show, the California Electronics Association donated $50,000 to the Las Vegas Metro Police Department to purchase seven Vetrix electric motorcycles which are on the streets of the tourist corridor every day helping to keeping Las Vegas both safe and green.