California to Set Energy Efficiency Standards for Televisions

The California Energy Commission is considering placing regulations on the sale of big-screen televisions that would require the TVs to meet new energy efficiency standards. Recent research shows that televisions account for 2 percent of the state’s electricity use and 10 percent of residential electricity use, and these numbers are expected to increase as more people purchase electricity-guzzling plasma and LCD televisions. The new regulations are expected to save $8.1 billion dollars in electricity over the next ten years, which comes out to around $30 per television per year in energy savings. If passed, the bill would go into effect in 2011.