Orrymain

Well, they did it. California is leading the nation, into what, I'm not sure. However, it's not a 'ban', it's an efficiency thing, so now it's up to the manufacturers to improve the technology. How many states will follow?

Calif. Adopts TV Efficiency Standards
Goal Is To Cut Energy Use

POSTED: 11:34 am PST November 18, 2009
UPDATED: 12:06 pm PST November 18, 2009
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Power-hungry TVs will be banned from store shelves in California after state regulators adopted a first-in-the nation mandate to lower electricity demand.

On a unanimous vote, the California Energy Commission on Wednesday required all new televisions up to 58 inches to be more energy efficient beginning in 2011. The requirement will be tougher in 2013, with only a quarter of all TVs on the market currently meeting that standard.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger praised the move.

"Not only has our commitment to energy efficiency standards like these created billions in savings for consumers, it has allowed California's per capita electricity consumption to remain flat over the last 30 years while national energy consumption has steadily increased," the governor said in a prepared statement. "I applaud the commission for its hard work to enact these and other cost-effective energy efficiency standards that are not only great for the environment, but also good for consumers."

The California Energy Commission estimates that TVs account for about 10 percent of a home's electricity use. The concern is that the energy draw will rise by as much as 8 percent a year as consumers buy larger televisions, add more to their homes and watch them longer.

Commissioners said energy efficiency standards are the cheapest and easiest way to save electricity.

bicker

I won't be worried about this at all until I walk into Best Buy and the shelves are bare because American ingenuity was unable to figure out how to make televisions that use a reasonable amount of electricity.

O-O

Yes but regulating American / Foreign ingenuity is a whole other issue.

bicker

Good thing that's not what's happening.

EscapeVelocity

Looks like Plasma technology is SOL. Get one now before they are regulated out of the market.

BCF68

Since when are TVs made in America?

O-O

Maybe not directly, but they are in essence forcing manufactures to develop alternative methods to let stores sell TVs in my state. I'm not completely against this; I'm just tired of baring the brunt of the costs associated with CA's radical initiatives and laws. I can't walk 5 steps in a mall or store without seeing that stupid Prop 65 sticker.

bicker

Not in any way. You've been snowed.

O-O

but it isn't even December yet!

Please explain.

Orrymain

The retailers are big time upset about this. I think there's going to be a lot of fallout from it, but no clue which way the tide will turn. California's a huge state, though; that's a lot of $$$, so I would think the manufacturer's would get their acts together.