October’s Yes, California’s already well-known for passing energy-efficiency standards for appliances and electronics — and the state looks ready to apply its eco-smart standards to televisions too. The L.A. Times reports that as soon as Nov. 4, California policymakers could pass “the nation’s first ban on energy-hungry big-screen televisions.”
After all, previous energy-efficiency standards applied to everything from refrigerators to air conditioners have shown that setting high standards leads to more eco-friendly appliances and gadgets — without hurting the economy. Reports the L.A. Times:
If all TVs met state standards, [energy commission staff engineer Ken] Rider added, California could avoid the $600-million cost of building a natural-gas-fired power plant. Switching to more-efficient TVs could have an estimated net benefit to the state of $8.1 billion, the commission staff reported.
Even if the California Energy Commission votes to set tough efficiency standards for TVs on Nov. 1, it’ll be a while before all TVs are eco-smart, since standards would be phased in over 2 years starting Jan. 2011. Still, once California sets this regulation, many states will follow suit — and even the ones that don’t will benefit from a marketplace that’s adapted to the tougher laws that California’s mandated.
Earlier on MNN:
Which HDTVs use the least energy?
Energy efficiency: analog vs. digital
Warning: Don’t trash that analog TV
Which HDTVs use the least energy?
Energy efficiency: analog vs. digital
Warning: Don’t trash that analog TV
Photo by David J
