State Mandates Low-Watt Devices
From Associated Press
California regulators are forcing manufacturers of household electronics such as TVs, DVD players and cellphone chargers to make their products more energy-efficient under new rules that could spark a nationwide trend toward wattage-thrifty small appliances.
In a 5-0 vote Wednesday, the California Energy Commission approved standards to be phased in starting in 2006 that will require all televisions, videocassette recorders and DVD players sold in the state to run on one to three watts.
Even when idle, most models of such home entertainment devices now use two to 10 watts.
The requirements will save commercial and residential users more than $3 billion over 15 years, the commission calculated.
