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Off Topic Discussion California appears poised to be first to ban power-guzzling big-screen TVs
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Author | Topic: California appears poised to be first to ban power-guzzling big-screen TVs |
BeWare POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Acworth , Georgia , USA |
posted 10-15-2009 05:04 PM
By Marc Lifsher October 14, 2009 E-mail Print Share Text Size Reporting from Sacramento - The influential lobby group Consumer Electronics Assn. is fighting what appears to be a losing battle to dissuade California regulators from passing the nation's first ban on energy-hungry big-screen televisions. On Tuesday, executives and consultants for the Arlington, Va., trade group asked members of the California Energy Commission to instead let consumers use their wallets to decide whether they want to buy the most energy-saving new models of liquid-crystal display and plasma high-definition TVs. "Voluntary efforts are succeeding without regulations," said Doug Johnson, the association's senior director for technology policy. Too much government interference could hamstring industry innovation and prove expensive to manufacturers and consumers, he warned. But those pleas didn't appear to elicit much support from commissioners at a public hearing on the proposed rules that would set maximum energy-consumption standards for televisions to be phased in over two years beginning in January 2011. A vote could come as early as Nov. 4. The association's views weren't shared by everyone in the TV business. Representatives of some TV makers, including top-seller Vizio Inc. of Irvine, said they would have little trouble complying with tighter state standards without substantially increasing prices. "We're comfortable with our ability to meet the proposed levels and implementation dates," said Kenneth R. Lowe, Vizio's co-founder and vice president. Last month, the commission formally unveiled its proposal to require manufacturers to limit television energy consumption in a way that has been done with refrigerators, air conditioners and dozens of other products since the 1970s. "We would not propose TV efficiency standards if we thought there was any evidence in the record that they will hurt the economy," said Commissioner Julia Levin, who has been in charge of the two-year rule-making procedure. "This will actually save consumers money and help the California economy grow and create new clean, sustainable jobs." Tightening efficiency ratings by using new technology and materials should result in "zero increase in cost to consumers," said Harinder Singh, an Energy Commission staffer on the TV regulation project. California's estimated 35 million TVs and related electronic devices account for about 10% of all household electricity consumption, the Energy Commission staff reported. But manufacturers quickly are coming up with new technologies that are making even 50-inch-screen models much more economical to operate. New features, such as light-emitting diodes that consume tiny amounts of power, special reflective films and sensors that automatically adjust TV brightness to a room's viewing conditions, are driving down electricity consumption, experts said. The payoff could be big for TV owners, said Ken Rider, a commission staff engineer. Average first-year savings from reduced electricity use would be an estimated $30 per set and $912 million statewide, he said. If all TVs met state standards, 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. Consumer Electronics Assn. officials disputed that figure, arguing that it was based on out-of-date numbers that fail to account for recent industry innovations. "With voluntary compliance, manufacturers can meet the targets over time, managing the cost impact, yet not in any way impeding innovation," said Seth Greenstein, an association consultant. |
bjprowler POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Clarksville,Ohio,USA |
posted 10-15-2009 05:32 PM
I bet California will also be first to ban butter on your popcorn... |
broakie56 POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:South Wales (Buffalo), NY, USA |
posted 10-15-2009 07:21 PM
And to think we're in the process of pushing 'electric' cars on consumers as well now and moreover in the very near future! Worried about LED, LCOS & Plasma tv's adding to the current strain of our power grids, what do you think millions of electric cars is going to do.......especially when everyone will be plugging them in, not only at home, to recharge them but elsewhere as well. Production of solar cell-built charging stations need to be built now.....faster than ever to accomodate our future electrical consumption requirements....especially with the addition of electric transportation vehicles just around the corner. ------------------ |
phil2237 POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:PLACENTIA CALIFORNIA |
posted 10-16-2009 11:12 PM
Yep, They are taking away all the Plasmas. |
Top Kat POA Site Supporter Prowler Junkie From:Glen Allen, Va U S A |
posted 10-18-2009 11:15 PM
Well...........as usual........the powers that be that we all put in power are not thinking far enough into the future with technology and increased population. Look at our road system in every state, By the time new road work is complete.....it is already obsolete.......we have outgrown it. Then they tear it up and build it bigger.....our city, county, state, and federal fathers do not think far enough in advance. No wonder we have such federal debt. Such a waste of our tax money. I love this country......but I hate the way it is run by our elected officials. If I ran my business this way....I would be broke too!!!! |
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