California Wants to Kick Energy-Sucking TVs Out of Stores
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California 
on 01. 6.09
Photo via cpchannel
California wants to get tough on power-hungry LCD and Plasma TVs, telling retailers that they can only sell energy efficient models starting in 2011.
But that push doesn't come without some shoving back from the TV makers.
State regulators are starting to draft the first set of rules that would give energy sucking LCDs and Plasmas the boot from California retail stores. The regulations are expected to pass in mid-2009. The new rules would go a long way in helping consumers make energy efficient choices - they'd be the only choices available - and regulators feel only efficient TVs in homes would help relieve some of the strain on the power grid.
During a peak viewing time when most sets are on, such as the Super Bowl, TVs in the state collectively suck up the equivalent of 40% of the power generated by the San Onofre nuclear power station running at full capacity. Televisions account for about 10% of the average Californian's monthly household electricity bill.
Manufacturers say they're already hurrying to make energy efficient sets, and regulators should just be patient. But really, ripping the rug out from under them seems to be the only practical way to get them to rush to improve their products.
What's more, Rosenfeld [Energy Commission member Arthur Rosenfeld, an international leader for more than three decades in finding ways to save energy by boosting the efficiency of household appliances] noted that a number of television makers already produce models that meet the proposed commission efficiency standards and that 87% of current stock complies with the planned 2011 threshold. That deadline may be pushed back a bit if the industry needs a little more time "to get used to the standards," he said.
It's certainly a raging controversy right now, and we'll be following along as the debate and regulations unfold.
Via LA Times
More on LCD and Plasma TV Energy Issues:
Competition for LCD: Better Image, A Lot Less Power
Plasma TVs Suck (Electricity)
Energy Star Getting Tougher on TVs, Tests Them When Turned On
Flat Screen TVs Worse For Climate Than a Big Coal Plant
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I don't know perhaps the answer is to ration energy? So many BTU of motor vehicle fuel, so many BTU of heating energy, so many watts of electrical power, per person per month. At the same time enabling people to purchase fuel efficient vehicle and retro fitting the homes to consume less energy.
I thought about paying people in terms of water rights... but about this article:
yes yes yes to banning crap consumer energy-hogging products.
LCDs were supposed to be more efficient than CRTs. What happened?
It's a no-news topic. The companies - uin some cases the same ones, GE, etc - made the same qualms known when California imposed Energy Star requirements on home appliances. Their business wasn't hurt at all, and I think the state's right in that laws have to be passed to really push the companies to sell their stock. Good for us!
"LCDs were supposed to be more efficient than CRTs. What happened?"
Many people replaced small CRT's with massive TV's. So a large LCR could use more power than a small CRT.
Plasma's are pretty much energy hogs relative to LCD's
It would make more sense to charge a base KW/hr rate and then charge incrementally more beyond that, that way McMansions and wasteful people are encourage to use less.
IMHO, California is going to vote itself until it fails. People are already leaving the state, why encourage more people to?
If Best Buy and others can't sell profitable items, they might close their doors and "go where the getting is good" which won't help the tax roles any.