Couch potatoes with plasma tv's, beware: California considers ban on big screen

[avedis]

State considers ban on big screen TVs
March 23rd, 2009, 3:00 am · 72 Comments · posted by BRIAN JOSEPH, Sacramento Correspondent
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.
“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 powers-that-be with your Title24@energy.state.ca.us.

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

Nice way to stimulate the economy

[Invisigoth]

I'll believe it when I see it (and then I will laugh into all my cali friends' faces ;) )

[Laworkerbee]

I'll believe it when I see it (and then I will laugh into all my cali friends' faces ;) )

Germany is considering the same ban. These televisions use twice the power of our old televisions, I say ban em :)

[StukaJr]

Note how this is only a ban on California Retailers - a winning way to make even more businesses to move right out of the doomed State, that's on top of recently raised Sales Tax in the Nation makes purchasing from out of State a cheaper alternative...

You voted for Nanny State and you got it - a lot of props make me scratch my head to why would Americans would ever want to surrender that much of their own freedom.

[Weasel]

Germany is considering the same ban. These televisions use twice the power of our old televisions, I say ban em :)

That´s new to me but I´d say: ban televisions in general. They only broadcast trash, garbage and rubbish. p-)

[StukaJr]

Germany is considering the same ban. These televisions use twice the power of our old televisions, I say ban em :)

At least they are not irradiating you with low doses of radiation and X-Rays while you watch them p-)

They should also ban DVR's, programmable coffee makers and anything else that lives a life of its own on energy grid while not in direct use - but then Obama's proposed tax hike on energy use will probably make a lot of them rather pricey to run as is...

[Laworkerbee]

That´s new to me but I´d say: ban televisions in general. They only broadcast trash, garbage and rubbish. p-)

I read it in the proposal here recently, it sounded like "well Germany is doing it, so should we"
After all, those Germans are so enlightened, we would be fools not to follow them. :)


At least they are not irradiating you with low doses of radiation and X-Rays while you watch them p-)

And it's free, do you have any idea how much I must pay at the doctors for an X-ray?

[Weasel]

After all, those Germans are so enlightened, we would be fools not to follow them. :)

Can´t disagree here. :)
Saving energy is good for the environment but it´s also good for your wallet. For most people that´s the main reason to kill standby-machines.

[Laworkerbee]

Can´t disagree here. :)
Saving energy is good for the environment but it´s also good for your wallet. For most people that´s the main reason to kill standby-machines.

We have other reasons as well here; We are short of power generating capability and when it gets hot and everyone turns on the air conditioning then we turn into India with power outages everywhere.

Energy sucking appliances not welcome.

[TheKiwi]

I read it in the proposal here recently, it sounded like "well Germany is doing it, so should we"
After all, those Germans are so enlightened, we would be fools not to follow them. :)





That's right, when did the German's ever have a bad idea?

[Laworkerbee]

That's right, when did the German's ever have a bad idea?

They always have a bright idea, but with them, the devil is in the details

[CG51]

This is retarded. What happened to Cali?

[StukaJr]

Wasn't Germany also proposing a ban on charcoal grills?

Well, if Kalifornia ban big screen televisions - I might as well join the ranks of outlaws by acquiring a snapping turtle, ferret, gas powered leaf blower and some azzault wheaphons... As a matter of fact, I'm gonna power my big screen television by plugging it straight into my gasoline powered generator and see what generates more green house gas while stringing my apartment with mountain lion pelts...

[CG51]

What's to stop them from buying from online retailers?

[Weasel]

We have other reasons as well here; We are short of power generating capability and when it gets hot and everyone turns on the air conditioning then we turn into India with power outages everywhere.

Energy sucking appliances not welcome.

I know that the US energy supply system is not the best. Time to modernize!

[Laworkerbee]

I know that the US energy supply system is not the best. Time to modernize!

Politics man, the Greens are killing us in this regard. Nothing is good enough for them.

[Jobu]

And then you wonder why California is running $12 billion deficits.

[Laworkerbee]

And then you wonder why California is running $12 billion deficits.

Because we vote for stem cell research? :|

[Weasel]

Politics man, the Greens are killing us in this regard. Nothing is good enough for them.

Greens, democrats, republicans...........everybody should be interested in a stable, cost efficient and modern energy sipply system, shouldn´t they?

[Marmot1]

Enforce breathing ban on legislators and introduce additional taxation on politicians for wasted oxygen, and you will save more energy.

[Laworkerbee]

Greens, democrats, republicans...........everybody should be interested in a stable, cost efficient and modern energy sipply system, shouldn´t they?

Yeah, now try getting them to agree on anything rofl

[Weasel]

Yeah, now try getting them to agree on anything rofl

Politics - the absence of logic. :roll:

[TheKiwi]

Compromise - the art of making a solution everyone hates.

[Jobu]

Because we vote for stem cell research? :|

Vote for it all you want. How the hell are you gonna pay for it?

[Laworkerbee]

Vote for it all you want. How the hell are you gonna pay for it?

That's what I said when the vote was going down "why is our state spending money on this?" "where is the mandate"

In the end I realized why it was created and voted on, nothing more than a **** you to Bush, I swear to God, it was nothing more.

Now we are 3 billion in debt for a "**** you Bush" :|

[eskachig]

Is there anything Cali hasn't banned yet?At least we're trying to legalize weed :D

[Hollis]

Germany is considering the same ban. These televisions use twice the power of our old televisions, I say ban em :)


I say Ban Kalifornia and give 'em back to Mexico, or Heck the Japanese can have them.

[Laworkerbee]

I say Ban Kalifornia and give 'em back to Mexico, or Heck the Japanese can have them.

This is my Palestine HOLLiS.....

[Hollis]

This is my Palestine HOLLiS.....


Cool, we can get Israel to help.

[Laworkerbee]

Cool, we can get Israel to help.

They do know a thing or two about securing borders and building walls.

What?

[szr]

I'm just waiting for California to discover the link between stress and health problems. Then stressed-out Californians will be required by law to wear bracelets that read, "This emotional state contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm."

[Hollis]

They do know a thing or two about securing borders and building walls.

What?


Time for:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k226/Hollis6475/ORBC.jpg

[GtodeO]

Oh no now I'm worried about my uncles out in the west, if this is passed but at least they'll be off the couch.

[sinophile]

Ha... this thread has 3x the traffic of everything else in Poltical Discussions and Rants. Threaten a man's ability to earn a living and your in trouble, but threaten his television and you're really in trouble.

[USMCRTop]

I have lived in california all my life and I dunno where we are going to AT ALL

[JJC]

I have lived in california all my life and I dunno where we are going to AT ALL
^ :)
I'm taking a comparative urban politics seminar and I gotta say that the way you westerners designed your political/government systems is interesting but very strange.

As long as my Pioneer plasma is safe from NY hippies, I don't mind what they do in Cali. p-)

[notherhen40]

Note how this is only a ban on California Retailers - a winning way to make even more businesses to move right out of the doomed State, that's on top of recently raised Sales Tax in the Nation makes purchasing from out of State a cheaper alternative...

You voted for Nanny State and you got it - a lot of props make me scratch my head to why would Americans would ever want to surrender that much of their own freedom.

Because most americans are part of the problem, And the rest are to stupid to know better.

[Hot Lips]

If only they had banned Sony Trinitrons before I was daft enough to buy one. I dismantled mine this weekend and what's left still weights a friggin ton. I'm going to have to put it on a blanket, drag it out the back of the house and all the way around just to get it to the curb for waste management.

They should stock pile them and drop them from planes if we ever run out of bombs.

[Laworkerbee]

As long as my Pioneer plasma is safe from NY hippies, I don't mind what they do in Cali. p-)

In due time, in due time.

[ayanami_tard]

like a wise governator always said:

"hasta la vista,TV"(australian accent)

[Zoomie]

So my question is, will this ban apply to:


Hollywood
Politicians
The Governator
Silicon Valley

And most likely, the answer will be: No.

[wildcat]

They should also ban DVR's
my comcast DVR's (I have 2) are rated at 500w each, One the down stairs system I power down at the wall, the TV, DVR and Sound system, this has lead to me saving 30% on my electric bill per year, I been doing it for a year. The only problems is it takes a few minutes for the DVR to download all the channel info. The upstairs is a 37" LCD with a DVD, use this to record all the shows.

There are other large screen solutions better than plasma, and that is HD projection, My buddy sells 108" + systems, the demo in his office is unreal, but for a small setup we are talking $17K and for the average system he sells is around $65K.

[Laworkerbee]

They should also ban DVR's

I should douse you in gasoline for even suggesting that :-*$

[Hispeed1]

0h noes! (What will they think of next... banning gas powered cars in Cali?)

[Jobu]

If only they had banned Sony Trinitrons before I was daft enough to buy one. I dismantled mine this weekend and what's left still weights a friggin ton. I'm going to have to put it on a blanket, drag it out the back of the house and all the way around just to get it to the curb for waste management.

They should stock pile them and drop them from planes if we ever run out of bombs.



Not sure if you looked into it but most areas have at least 1 person/business who recycles or refurbishes and resells old TVs, monitors, and such things with any resale proceeds going to charity.

They even come to your home and pick it up.

[Kletterbuxe]

like a wise governator always said:

"hasta la vista,TV"(australian accent)

I hope you are joking ... rofl

[davey]

Germany is considering the same ban. These televisions use twice the power of our old televisions, I say ban em :)

How about energy trading almost like carbon trading? The difference being if I use a small fridge then I'm allowed to use a big TV....:)

[Laworkerbee]

How about energy trading almost like carbon trading? The difference being if I use a small fridge then I'm allowed to use a big TV....:)

That sounds like a very reasonable compromise.

[MaverickCowboy]

They ban guns, now TV's? whats next? Ban SUV's, Pickup trucks, Sports cars/ muscle cars. yet all the hollywood starts would have V12 SL convertibles. Ban conservatives and churches too right? but Mosques can stay.

[Bia]

These televisions use twice the power of our old televisions, I say ban em :)I never knew that and just assumed the opposite... no warm glass chunk just a cool plastic-like screen.

Hmmmm

[Laworkerbee]

I never knew that and just assumed the opposite... no warm glass chunk just a cool plastic-like screen.

Hmmmm

I was real surprised as well, I guess we just assume that if it's new it's efficient.

[omghihi]

an effort to reduce CO2 emissions? maybe they should have invested in nuclear power plants instead of those working on coal. oh wait - the greens would probably throw a tantrum over it.