Can you imagine a world without a remote control? I cannot, as we have become so accustomed to the flexibility and comfort that they provide. The greatest test for any person is having a broken remote and then you realize that the remote control saves plenty of energy. The walk between the couch and TV become a real irritating occurrence which tends to force one to replace the remote control.
The universal remote control that allows you to pair your remote with the various electronic equipment with it, is the ultimate remote in my mind. That ensures that you use less batteries and have one master remote that can switch various electronics on (Hi-Fi, DVD player etc) and off. So what are your options? Logitech, Ellies and Antec make remote controls that are very useful.
If you have a remote control, also check that your batteries are still functioning and not dead yet because that might cause you to believe that the remote no longer works.