NEC goes green, again, with a 22-inch monitor

The 22-inch NEC Multisync EA221WM is the greenest display I've ever encountered. Which isn't saying much, unfortunately.

(Credit: NEC)

I bought a new LCD TV last week and didn't once think about how its energy output could affect the environment. I was just focused on getting the best TV I could afford. I'm not even sure if large-screen LCDs can be environmentally compatible. I'll have to do some research on my new TV when I get home, but at least NEC is attempting to give us options.

On Wednesday, NEC announced the 22-inch MultiSync EA221WM wide-screen LCD monitor. This is the second monitor in the company's MultiSync EA series, the first being its 26-inch EA261WM, which was released in June.

NEC is touting this as a premium enterprise display that boasts a 5ms pixel response time, a viewing angle of 176 degrees, and a contrast ratio of 1000:1.

Other features include the following:

• 1,680x1,050 resolution (WSXGA)
• 250 cd/m? brightness
• Four-way adjustable stand (110mm height, tilt, swivel, pivot)
• Down-firing speakers with headphone jack
• Four-port USB 2.0 hub
• HDCP via DVI
• HDMI-compatible via adapter
• NaViKey screen-setting adjustment
• Dynamic Video Mode with five settings
• Built-in carrying handle
• Cable-management cover

NEC also designed the display with its green hat on. They registered the EA221WM as EPEAT Gold, which requires that it be Energy Star-compliant. As such, the display should cut back on its own greenhouse gas emissions by 20 to 30 percent.

By running the monitor in NEC's ECO mode, users are able to lower their power consumption. The monitor also features a built-in carbon footprint meter that's able to calculate and track the carbon savings of the display.

So, thank you NEC for making me look bad. I guess I didn't have to mention my new TV, but did so in the interest of full disclosure. Along that track I do own a hybrid car. Good for me!

The display ships in September for a street price of $389.99.