So just how much television are people watching in California? Apparently enough to put an undue strain on the electric grid, according to energy regulators in the Golden State.
While California's Legislature and governor are proposing dramatic fuel-efficiency measures to help cut emissions from the millions upon millions of cars on the road, the California Energy Commission is taking its energy-efficiency initiative to the family living room, where it says TVs -- in the era of the 60-inch plasma flat screen -- account for up to 10% of people's electric bills. And all of that American Idol, CSI and Days of Our Lives is driving up power costs for everyone while creating more pollution, the CEC insists.
"Appliance standards are not a sexy story but ... a more energy-efficient television is going to help save the planet," CEC spokesman Adam Gottlieb told Reuters this week.
The CEC is floating proposed standards aimed at limiting the amount of juice a TV used in California can use --standards it said would save about 500 MW of energy a year. Specifically, the rules would require all new TVs sold in California to consume about 30% less power than existing sets starting with the 2011 model year and 50% less juice starting in 2013.
"Thirty years ago, refrigerators were sucking up 200 watts, and today they sip 40 watts. California is the most energy-efficient state in the nation, due in part to appliance standards," Gottlieb said.
Not surprisingly, TV makers aren't buying it.
"The commission essentially wants to cut off a certain number of TVs from the market in order to save energy," Doug Johnson, an official with the Consumer Electronics Association, said. His group and others like it think voluntary standards are the way to go.
So will these new standards actually be adopted. And will other states follow suit? Tune in ….
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