The latest in solar energy belongs to home theater systems. The Home Theater Specialists of America (HTSA) engineered the first solar powered surround sound system from the ground up, or should I say, the sun down?

Known as the Guiltless Green Home Theater, HTSA proves that you can have it all; environmental protection and a system any sports fan and soap opera fan can be proud of.  

After installing four solar panels on the roof of a home, HTSA wired the in wall speakers, wall mounted projection screen, and mood lighting system to the solar panel power supply. By using 700 watts and hour of renewable energy to supply power to the theater system, media lovers gain 19 hours of watching time and prevent greenhouse emissions that would have otherwise been supplied by fossil fuel electricity.

David Berman of HTSA explains that by installing “solar panels on the roof that collect the sun’s energy…you are actually spinning the meter backward.” That is, if you spend hours of your electricity demand watching TV, you might save a few bucks on your utility bill by installing Guiltless system. 

Incremental steps like these can make a difference in reducing a home’s carbon footprint. It proves that with some creative thinking, environmental stewardship is possible without having to give up a fun quality of life.