Environmentally friendly products from appliances to dry cleaning are all the rage these days. But one issue has remained less clear, at least in the tech business: Are consumers willing to pay more for energy-efficient consumer electronics?

According to a telephone survey of 1002 U.S. adults in March that was commissioned by Sharp Electronics, it appears they are. It found that Americans are three times more likely to pay more up front for a product that saves on their electricity bills in the long run than they are to purchase the less expensive product now.

That’s not to say their budgets are unlimited as far as spending on green products. Some 72 percent of respondents said they are much more inclined to choose an energy-saving product if cost is not an issue.

Bob Scaglione, a senior vice president at Sharp, says the results surprised him. “We had our own feelings that consumers generally were not willing to pay extra when they are standing in front of the product ready to buy. That is why we haven’t charged more,” he says.

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Just how much power TVs should use has become a matter of growing debate between the California Energy Commission and the consumer electronics industry.

Next week, the Consumer Electronics Association is coming out with a new study in a salvo against the CEC over proposed rules for specific energy standards for TVs sold in California. Under the CEC’s proposed rules, 42-inch TVs sold in California must consume 183 watts or less by 2011, dropping to 115.5 watts by 2013. The CEC says it’s trying to make TVs more efficient to save the state and consumers money.

But the CEA’s new study, which the industry group commissioned earlier this year from consulting services firm Resolution Economics LLC in Los Angeles, tries to debunk some of the CEC’s reasoning for the new rules.

Doug Johnson, the CEA’s senior director of technology policy and international affairs, says consumers won’t save any money under the proposed rules and will end up paying more for TVs if the rules go into effect. The study notes that TV makers currently charge more for TVs that currently meet the government’s Energy Star standard, which is given to those products that meet strict energy efficient guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

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Ever wonder what happens to your Facebook account after you die? Someone does.

That someone is Legacy Locker, a new online service announced Tuesday that allows people to securely store usernames, passwords and other access information for all their digital assets–from Facebook and MySpace accounts to Gmail and PayPal–and pass that information along to beneficiaries in the event of their death.

Jeremy Toeman, co-founder of Legacy Locker, a San Francisco start-up, says this kind of system is a lot easier than trying to wrestle the information out of social-networking sites and Web companies as a family member of the deceased. “It’s the online equivalent of a safety deposit box,” Toeman says.

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High-definition flat panel televisions get cheaper every day, but for most people they still aren’t considered a cheap purchase. Tack on the cost of Blu-ray players, movies and HD cable, and you can find yourself saddled with bills as you transition from standard definition to high-definition.

So what if you’re someone who wants to watch the big game in HD, but without skimping on the basic luxuries like food and clothing? Well, we’ve found some options for you.

For one, the government postponed the date when broadcasters switch to digital TV signals to June 12 from February. That means that we’ll likely see TV manufacturers and retailers continue to discount new flat panel TVs to lure those of us who haven’t yet upgraded from the bulky old-school tubes.

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Do you like your documents shredded with a cross cut or micro cut? Here’s a hint: Shredders using the micro cut make the smallest cut, which slashes documents into such small pieces that it provides “maximum” security, while the cross cut shreds documents to provide just “enhanced” security.

In this era of corporate malfeasance, office supply retailer Staples, the official shredder supplier for the CES room, is touting the its latest line of high-tech shredders at the CES trade show.

We at the Digits blog didn’t know shredders could come with so much built-in technology. Staples is showcasing some shredders with V-Track, a blade technology that centers the paper as it shreds, which prevents paper jams.

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Yes, this may be the worst recession America has seen since World War II. But the people who are bringing us the Consumer Electronics Show would like to point out that sales of tech products are actually faring pretty well when compared to what happened during previous recessions.

The evidence suggest that people’s views on devices such as televisions, notebook computers and mobile phones are changing, says Shawn DuBravac, economist for the Consumer Electronics Association. Through November of 2008, 17.22 percent of total durable good purchases were tech goods, the highest share in 50 years, he says.

“While these are typically discretionary purchases, consumers are treating them like nondiscretionary purchases,” says Mr. DuBravac.

That doesn’t mean that consumers aren’t making cutbacks. In fact, in many categories, consumers seem to be gravitating toward lower-priced items for varying reasons. For example, coming out of the 2007 holiday season, nearly 50 percent of all flat panel sales were over 40 inches. Today, Mr. DuBravac says, that numbers stands closer to 35 percent.

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