Ken’s Take: I really like this idea. Why? Frees up $$$ so folks can buy healthcare insurance … instead of me buying it for them.
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From the San Francisco Business Times: California looks to limit big screen TVs, October 14, 2009
California may ban some types of big screen televisions because they use too much power.
The state’s energy commission has proposed limits on big screen plasma and liquid crystal TV sets. The move is supported by power utilities and opposed by electronics industry groups.
A vote by the commission could happen as early as Nov. 4. If the rules pass, they’ll take effect in two phases, the first in 2011 and the second, tougher level, in 2013, and would reduce energy consumption by 49 percent, the commission said.
These types of televisions use lots of power, as much as a refrigerator in some cases.
“The standards would improve the energy efficiency of televisions without affecting the quality of the television, ” said the commission. It also said the technology needed to improve the energy efficiency of sets already exists.
About 1,000 types of televisions already meet the stringent standards, the commission said.
http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2009/10/12/daily42.html?ana=e_bjtt
Only in California, but maybe it’ll spread …
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The Homa Files 
October 19, 2009 at 10:00 am |
The market is waaay ahead of the politics. Current plasma TV’s use about half as much energy as same sized models from a couple years ago.