California to pull plug on big-screen TVs
Sacramento: The “guvernator” is leading California where no state has dared before. In a world first, big screen plasma televisions are to be banned in California because they use too much energy. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has given his backing to the move which would prohibit the sale of TV sets more than 40 inches wide. California’s utilities and environmental groups had urged state energy regulators to ban the most power-hungry televisions from stores as a way to lower electricity demand. A rule before the California Energy Commission would impose the first energyefficiency requirements for flatscreen televisions, a mandatory standard that is expected to be copied by other states. “The goal here is a simple one,” Noah Horowitz, a scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, told commissioners at a hearing on Tuesday. “We want to ensure that every TV sold in California is an efficient one,” Horowitz said. A vote on the standard could come as early as next month. Some manufacturers argue a mandatory power standard would hamper innovation, limit consumer choice and hurt California electronics retailers. Energy commissioners say the rule could play a key role in reducing electricity use as consumers buy larger TVs. Watching TV accounts for about 10% of a home’s electricity use and about 2% of California’s total electricity usage. If left unchecked, the amount of electricity used by TVs is projected to rise by 8% a year. The LCD and plasma high definition sets can use as much as three times the power of smaller cathode ray models. AGENCIES --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""GLOBAL SPECULATORS"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/globalspeculators?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
