California may become the first state to put mandatory energy limits on televisions. The state's energy commission points out that some higher-end TVs, such as 42-inch plasma TVs, use more energy than a large refrigerator.
The
San Francisco Chronicle reported:
"To reduce the electrical draw from TVs, the commission has proposed the nation's first mandatory energy limits on televisions -- limits that many large LCD and plasma TVs on the market do not meet.
"'We want to get rid of energy-guzzling televisions,' said Adam Gottlieb, spokesman for the state energy commission.
"The proposed rules would take effect from 2011 to 2013, eventually cutting the use of power by 50 percent.
"But only one-fourth of TVs now sold in the state meet the standard, and a leading manufacturers group predicts that the rules will cost consumers and the state money, stifle innovation and result in fewer choices on store shelves.
"The energy commission wants to place 'artificial energy-use limits on televisions,' said Doug Johnson, senior director of technology policy for the Consumer Electronics Association, which represents most television-makers.
"Johnson said the group's goal is 'not to create harmful and unnecessary regulations. We have to recognize what is already working and think of ways to promote that in California.'"
How much power do other appliances in your house use? The U.S. Department of Energy says that "appliances account for about 17 percent of your household's energy consumption, with refrigerators, clothes washers, and clothes dryers at the top of the consumption list."
The government provides
this chart showing how much energy various appliances use, and gives some background to help you figure out how much you are spending to keep your appliances running:
"When you use electricity to cook a pot of rice for 1 hour, you use 1000 watt-hours of electricity! One thousand watt-hours equals 1 kilowatt-hour, or 1 kWh. Your utility bill usually shows what you are charged for the kilowatt-hours you use. The average residential rate is 9.4 cents per kWh. A typical U.S. household consumes about 11,000 kWh per year, costing an average of $1,034 annually.
"[The chart mentioned above] shows how much energy a typical appliance uses per year and its corresponding cost based on national averages. For example, a refrigerator uses almost five times the electricity the average television uses. Visit www.energysavers.gov for instructions on calculating the electrical use of your appliances."
