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The California Energy Commission, the state’s energy policy and planning agency, is planning to curb the sale of energy inefficient flat screen TVs.

Liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs use over 40% more electricity than conventional cathode ray tube models, while plasma TVs can require as much as three times more power.

But from 2011, California regulators are planning to require that retailers sell only energy efficient models.

If the regulations are passed in mid-2009, California will begin a two-stage phase-in beginning in 2011 and completing in 2013. Once fully implemented, the new regulations could reduce the state’s energy demand by an amount equivalent to 86,400 homes.

The regulations could undermine voluntary efficiency schemes such as the ENERGY STAR label, which has just been expanded by the Department of Energy to include water heaters – a move that it claims will save US consumers $823 million in utility costs over the next five years.

However, if figures that attribute 10% of the average Californian household monthly electricity bill to TV use are correct, then a push in the direction of efficiency could be in order.

For further information:
www.energy.ca.gov/
www.energy.gov/

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