CEC Adopts TV Power Regulations
By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 11/18/2009
Sacramento, Calif. - The California Energy Commission (CEC) adopted regulations Wednesday requiring televisions smaller than 58 inches to meet higher energy-efficiency standards.
The adopted rules will require California retailers to sell more energy-efficient TVs starting in January 2011, with even more stringent limits slated to phase in 2013.
The CEC said its actions should help the state save enough energy to power 864,000 single-family homes over 10 years. The commission also believes that the measures will save state consumers more than $8 billion over 10 years, which works out to nearly $20 a year per television in savings.
Those estimates were disputed by consumer electronics industry consultants, who said the calculations were based on flawed methodology.
The commission also said the new rules will reduce demand on the state's electric grid, which could avoid the need to construct additional power plants, and reduce air pollution.
Much of the information the CEC used in developing its energy savings assumptions came from Pacific Gas & Electric company figures.
The new regulations were also supported by utility companies Edison International and Sempra Energy.
The CEC has said that its efforts to control energy consumption in other areas, such as major appliance power limits, have helped the state keep per-capita power use flat for nearly 30 years, as it has reported growth by nearly 50 percent in other parts of the country.
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has argued that the measure could limit innovation in next-generation TVs by forcing manufacturers to leave out new features and functionality because they would draw additional power.
The CEA also argued, unsuccessfully, that the measure was unnecessary since the federal Energy Star program has already established similar voluntary guidelines with which most manufacturers already comply. Many sets on the market today already meet the CEC 2013 mandated limits.
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I heard about this on Fox News on my way home... Personally I have 4 Fujitsu plasmas, plus 2 - LCD's and 106" projector. I will use them till they die, or I do, which ever comes first! Regardless of there power consumption rating. All of these PANELS of people / experts getting up in the morning must take a “dumb s--t pill" as part of there daily supplements’. “Well folks its working, good job…” That is the only explanation I have to the increase in stupidity... Just seems Penny smart and Dollar foolish this whole TV thing. COME ON $20.00 Per Year per TV! Just add another solar panel on the roof so you can apply for a "Carbon Credit". Farce!!!! WHAT’S NEXT? MAYBE One day some "EXPERT" will determine that an iPod depletes the OZONE layer we will only be able to use them if they are in an air tight "Ozone Protector Device" OR even better pay the Government an OZONE tax! Similar to luxury tax you have to pay on cars over 40K. Another bag of crap! WAKE UP PEOPLE!
Frank M. Lepore - 2009-21-11 11:07:12 EST -
This is a great step in innovation and putting engineers from other countries to work for the better rather than the race for more features each year with no conscience to our future. This will not hold back innovation. It will create useful innovation that never would have happened if left to their own goals.
Larry Petersen
Larry Petersen - 2009-19-11 11:58:14 EST -
They can have my big screen TV when they pry the remote control out of my cold, dead hand!
Bill B - 2009-19-11 11:38:43 EST -
What about power consumption requirements for cable/sat boxes. As an example a SA8300 PVR consumes 500w! that's more than most 58" or less plasma TVs. A SA3250 consumes 300w!
FRR - 2009-19-11 10:06:48 EST -
This is another example of government's misguided perception of where it should be involved in personal decisions. So let's see, now we are mandated to use lightbulbs with poisonous substances inside instead of traditional incandescent bulbs, cars that run on batteries (for which the manufacturing & disposal process yields substantial toxic elements into the environment), and now this! Watch, here come the restrictions on your thermostat, the number of showers you can take in a week and the maximum temperature you can cook with in your oven.
Wayne Ortner - 2009-19-11 09:52:24 EST
CEC Approves TV Power Regulations
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