The Issues
TV Efficiency Standards
In November, California became the first state to adopt minimum efficiency standards for new televisions. The new rules require manufacturers to cut the power televisions use by one-third in two years and in half by 2013 by setting wattage ceilings. With TV manufacturers gearing up to meet the CA standard, now is the time for Washington to adopt the same energy efficiency standards.
Latest News:
- New Clothes Washer and Dishwasher Standards Will Save Consumers Loads of Money, Protect the Environment Energy and water efficiency standards released today by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will deliver clothes washers that use as much as 35 percent less energy and water and dishwashers that use about 14 percent less energy and 23 percent less water. That means lower utility bills for consumers and big environmental benefits for us all - without sacrificing any of the cleaning performance consumers count on, according to a coalition of consumer, energy and environmental groups.
- Friday kicks off the Spring 2012 NW Clean & Affordable Energy Conference Please join us in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in beautiful Kalispell for the NW Energy Coalition's NW Clean & Affordable Energy Conference. A host of leading energy experts from Montana and around the region will headline the conference May 18. We'll have panels on a variety of energy topics and issues of great importance to Montanans.
- A light bulb revolution: CFLs and LEDs replace incandescent bulbs We are witnessing a revolution. Not the political revolution creeping across the Arab world. Not the information revolution playing out in Silicon Valley. A light bulb revolution. As we move away from standard incandescents, however, it’s not entirely clear what we’re moving toward. Several designs — including CFLs and LEDs — meet the federal standards. So which of these is best for the environment? Read the full article online at The Washington Post
- Coalition comments on BPA's Capital Investment Review process The NW Energy Coalition writes to submit our comments on BPA’s draft asset strategies and potential investments in Federal Columbia River power and transmission assets. We first offer some general comments and then specifically focus attention on the investment levels outlined in the Asset Management Strategy for Energy Efficiency.
- GiveBIG for Clean and Affordable Energy Solutions on May 2! Please join us on Wednesday to build solutions for a clean and affordable energy future. Make a gift to the NW Energy Coalition this Wednesday, May 2nd and the Coalition will receive additional matching funds through the Seattle Foundation to support clean and affordable energy. All supporters of a clean and affordable energy future in any state are welcome to participate. Help bring together diverse voices and unparalleled policy expertise to build clean and affordable energy solutions.
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Why will the standard be good for Washington?
Energy efficiency is the cheapest and cleanest way to meet our growing demand for energy and this standard will ensure every TV sold in Washington is energy efficient.
- In 2020, these efficiency standards will save Washington consumers about $24.8 million per year on their energy bills. Energy savings will be an estimated 45 annual average megawatts – equivalent to the average output of about 60 wind turbines. (source: Appliance Standards Awareness Project)
- Consumers ultimately win by purchasing energy-efficient products not only because it will lower their utility bills, but also because their conservation efforts will reduce the need to spend money on new power plants.
Why TVs?
TV energy use has been rising dramatically here in the Northwest, there are more TVs per home than people! There are no federal energy-efficiency requirements for televisions, which — as they have become larger and fancier — use about 43% more energy than older tube TVs and more than some refrigerators. TVs and various settop boxes account for as much as 10 percent of household energy use and represent one of the largest unregulated appliances in the home.
Why a standard?
If Washington adopts the TV standards we can help accelerate market transformation in the country – and avoid industry ‘dumping’ inefficient TVs in our market. And a good standard is a consumer protection measure – allowing consumers to focus on choosing the product that is best for them without having to also spend time researching energy consumption. Because California’s standard is already in place, Washington consumers will see no incremental cost to TVs.
How will the standard work?
The standards are performance based and technology neutral. The greater the screen size the more power the TV is allowed to use. The standards will allow the sale of any type of TV including LCDs and plasmas, and won’t limit screen size.
How will the standard effect product availability?
Consumers will still be able to choose from a wide range of TV sizes, technologies and price points with equal or better performance than today’s models. The standard provides manufacturers with complete flexibility on how they design their products.
