The new changes have been proposed by Pacific Gas and electric Co. It is being assumed that this step would eventually wipe out high power-consuming TV sets from the stores in the state.
The new energy efficiency standards have been given a stamp of approval by the California Energy Commission and will be implemented from 2011. These rules will require TV manufacturers to set a maximum wattage limit so as to reduce the power consumed by TVs by one-third in two years and in half by 2013.
However, manufacturers have warned that this move could lead to massive tax revenue losses for the state.
They also said that people residing in California would be denied the access to latest technology. Moreover, people might just buy TVs online or out of the state and that could hurt the stores in California.
Doug Johnson, senior director of technology for the Consumer Electronics Association, was quoted as saying, “This is a constraint on innovation and on consumer choice.”
It is notable that California had already banned power-guzzling air-conditioners and refrigerators during the 1970s.
Details of the new rules
As of now, the new regulations will be applicable only to TV sets having screens less than 58 inches. TV sets having a screen bigger than 58 inches comprise of about three percent of the market share and have been spared for now. However, a limit on the power usage in these TVs will be regulated in the future.
According to the new directives, all new 42-inch TV sets must use less than 183 watts by 2011 and less than 115 watts by 2013.
The regulations will be implemented in two steps. In the first step, manufacturers will have to bring down a TV’s power use by 33 percent in 2011.
In the second step, this reduction in power use would go up to 49 percent in 2013.
This move will benefit the consumers as they will save an average of $18.50 every year under the 2011 standards. These savings would increase to almost $30.26 a year under the 2013 rules.
Move applauded by environmentalists
The latest move by the state of California has come in for appreciation from environmental groups and utility companies alike.
Matthew Lewis, spokesman for ClimateWorks, an energy and climate change policy foundation said, “It’s going to dramatically reduce carbon dioxide emissions from appliances that people use every day and they still get to watch TV.”
Appreciating the efforts of the Energy Commission in working towards making California an environment-friendly state, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was quoted as saying, “It is the real, achievable policies like the first-in-the-nation standards adopted by the Energy Commission today that have made California a world leader in the fight against climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Post new comment