California Considering Ban on Big Screen TVs

[xknowonex]

In their continuing quest to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, state regulators have uncovered a new villain in the war on global warming : your big screen TV

Couch potatoes, beware.

The California Energy Commission is considering a proposal that would ban California retailers from selling all but the most energy-efficient televisions. Critics say the news standards could take 25 percent of televisions off the market — most of them 40 inches or larger.

“The larger the television, the more at risk it is of being banned unnecessarily in California,” said Douglas Johnson, senior director of technology police for the Consumer Electronics Association.

Association officials say the standards are not only unnecessary – because the federal government already regulates energy efficiency through the voluntary Energy Star program — but also ill-timed. The last thing our economy needs now is products taken off the market, they say.

Furthermore, they say that with a weak economy, consumers are going out less and watching TV more.

“This is really about regulating entertainment, not energy use,” Johnson said.

Poppycock, says the commission.

Affordable big screen TVs will still be available under the new standards, spokesman Adam Gottlieb said. In fact, he said the regulations will save you money.

The commission calculates that if you buy televisions meeting the proposed standards it’ll cut your annual energy use by — drum roll, please — $18 to $30 per television per year.

“I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like to save money,” Gottlieb said.

Gottlieb said the commission is exploring the regulations to reduce the strain on the energy grid and to avoid building new power plants.

Televisions are the fastest growing consumer appliance in California. Californians are buying bigger TVs, and more of them. If something doesn’t happen, televisions are going to devour a bigger and bigger piece of the state’s power grid, which means we’ll need more power plants. More power plants mean more greenhouse gas emissions.

“Consumers aren’t aware of the hidden cost of powering these things,” Gottlieb said.

Gottlieb insisted that the regulations wouldn’t eliminate big screens from California stores. But the commission’s own draft report says TV energy use is “proportional to the screen size.” And there’s no doubt the regulations will limit energy use.

So if you’re in the market for big screen TV, now might be the time to buy. The regulations are expected to be approved this summer.

Want to weigh in? Email the Energy Commission with your comments at [email protected].

http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/2009/03/23/state-considers-ban-on-big-screen-tvs/12993/

 

[Matt_337]

If this is real, that's one more reason to avoid the Socialist Republic of California

 

[SoCalDude]

You can always buy from a non California retailer and have it shipped.

 

[jond]

I wonder how much it costs to pipe in the BBC? Maybe they should only allow US content as well.

Any why just limit the size of tv? Why not tell us how many hours we can watch, and what those hours are.

The myth of man made global warming is a very very dangerous idea.
The idea of 'houses never go down in value' is leading to what could be the second great depression. People need to be careful with what BS they buy into.



.

 

[john@johnhudakracing]

State regulators are paid to regulate. Looks like they found something new to keep themselves busy. Apparently you can be a state regulator, environmentalist, and electronic engineer too. Let's make special TV's just for California.

I am sure someone thinks that regulating the electrical consumption of consumer electronics is an essential function of the state.

 

[xknowonex]

The science of global warming doesn't bother but it is the policies to curb it does. As for the science aspect of it, I don't dispute it because I don't think myself, anyone on here, or most of those on Capitol Hill is qualified enough to prove or refute it. We should leave that to the scientists. What bothers me is the overzealous politicians crafting up dumb policies and overlooks the cost/benefits of their law, especially during a recession.

 

[NSX_Dreamer]

One of the dangers of global warming is all the hot air the politicians are generating.

 

[sahtt]

They are idiots.

 

[nsxlover]

They should concentrate of fixing their state budget problems rather than wasting everyone's time with this crap.

 

[john@johnhudakracing]

They should concentrate of fixing their state budget problems rather than wasting everyone's time with this crap.

The lack of prioritization is pretty staggering. Out of all of the state's problems... it's like hey- let's come together and talk about the size of your television set.

I wonder what really kicked off this discussion?

- Did someone watch MTV Cribs on a 8" and get jealous?

- Is it that everyone has a 42" minimum now - yet only the elite politicians earning over $180,000 a year should be able to get to have one?

 

[ntgr8td]

The good news I'm sure part of our stimulus money is going to research the ill effects
Of big screen tvs and maybe just maybe we will luck out and they will send us a rebate
Towards a new one. Fortunately for us when we're dead and gone our great grand kids
Will be paying taxes on the stimulus and we get to enjoy it! Take my big screen.....ah ok..
Hell I have a tv in the car. Touch my car or limit my diving? You sirs now have problems

 

[ilya]

Well hells bells.... I'll just start selling more projectors and 110" plus screens instead. I honestly don't care to sell TVs as they are commoditized and only profitable at large volumes, but like someone mentioned... one could create an entity in Nevada and ship them in from a distributor there.
I can see this hurting retail stores like Best Buy if they are no longer allowed to carry larger sets in their stores and smaller integrators like me can take that business away from them.

 

[Ski_Banker]

Next week they'll just decide that it isn't *fair* for some people to have large, energy consuming flat screen TVs when some folks still must make do with CRT TVs. And they'll make you give yours back, in the interest of fairness to all (and also in the interest of the environment, of course). :frown:

 

[BD]

In california, there is a mandatory $10 recycle fee built in to any flat panel TV during purchase.

That is just their way to "tax more" later. Sort of a mental prep for people.

Who are they try to kid? Every thing now a day is big screen flat panel.

 

[tosugrad]

Uses to much electricity? Hmm..........lets see..............what could we do about that................mmmmmm.............

MAYBE JUST UNPLUG THE DAMN THING!!!!

Or plug into a smart strip. The problem is NOT the energy it uses in USE, its the energy it uses when OFF. This just happens to be about the amount as when its on.

Stupidest damn thing I have ever heard. Friggen idiots.

 

[omega2]

The power consumption issue for a TV is irrelevant. The issue is the power grid has not been keeping up with increased demand/population. We were having rolling black out before big screen TVs were popular. If anything, the newer TV's are supposed to be more efficient. The green house gas issue is more of a buzz word than anything else. I find it gets used and twisted out of context.

 

[fullracehonda]

and i thought the hippies in oregon where bad enough

 

[nsxotic911]

It's too bad the RINO Governor CA has is useless.

 

[BD]

and i thought the hippies in oregon where bad enough

Pertty soon, you will see Washington, Oregon, and California merge as a giant Province.

 

[DrVolkl]

Pertty soon, you will see Washington, Oregon, and California merge as a giant Province.

Never happen. People up here hate you guys down there. There's no way we want your mess.

Just be happy we're still sending our water.
:wink:

 

[drtruong]

I did not know that the Northern CA is using your water. I have enough water in northern ca; maybe the south needs yours.

We are up here, Northern CA, is making the fun of the people in the South- keep flushing your toilets:biggrin:

 

[BD]

I did not know that the Northern CA is using your water. I have enough water in northern ca; maybe the south needs yours.

We are up here, Northern CA, is making the fun of the people in the South- keep flushing your toilets:biggrin:

You know I tried to flush my toilet 100 times a day to see if I can finally get the whirlpool to spin they other way... So far.. 100% failure.:biggrin:

 

[mickeylex]

In california, there is a mandatory $10 recycle fee built in to any flat panel TV during purchase.

That is just their way to "tax more" later. Sort of a mental prep for people.

Who are they try to kid? Every thing now a day is big screen flat panel.

The $10 might be the minimum mandatory fee. As the size of the screen gets bigger, the fee goes up. This also applies to computer screens.

 

[mickeylex]

Don't take these articles too seriously. All state legislatures put bills on the books that are crazy; not all make it to law. When the news day is slow, news is found to fill in the pages between advertising. :smile:

Ever hear about the State that made it illegal to cross state lines with a duck on your head? Somewhere in the South I think. :biggrin:

 

[zahntech]

Just wait....pretty soon it will be illegal to Super Size your combo.