EnergyStar lags behind other energy standards

According to a recent Popular Mechanics article, EnergyStar standards are lagging behind their foreign counterparts in purpose. It notes that other standards tend to be more detailed, like the European Union's labels, which provide more information like size, noise, and (for dishwashers), cleaning and drying performance, and South Korea's Energy Boy program, which actually highlights the least efficient appliances with warning stickers.

The article specifically highlights EnergyStar's dishwasher standards, which recently began using its most up-to-date criteria. However, EnergyStar also affects home theater equipment like HDTVs, set-top boxes, and DVD/Blu-Ray players, and it's interesting to note the differences between its standards and those of other nations.

— Will Greenwald

[Source: Gizmodo]

Possible European Ban on Plasma TVs

The EU is taking energy conservation rather seriously. Just after putting a ban on incandescent lightbulbs, power-hog plasma TVs might be getting the boot too.

Plasma TVs use about 50% more power than LCDs, and obviously, the bigger the TV, the more power it's most likely to consume.

According to The Independent, a European newspaper, "Energy-guzzling flatscreen plasma televisions will soon be banned as part of the battle against climate change."  The EU is working on a new standard, along with compulsory labels to help consumers determine the most energy-efficient models.

At home, California is considering stricter regulations that could require TVs use 50% less energy by 2013.

Are you willing to give up your big beautiful plasma TV to save the planet? --Leslie Shapiro

The New York Times

Energy-Efficient TVs for California

Leave it to California. The state that sets the bar for environmentalism awfully high is raising it yet again. Regulators in the state are getting ready to propose a new set of rules for retailers. "You can only sell the most energy-effecient televisions." They want this to start in 2011.

Saving the planet is great, but who do you think is most opposed to this new proposed ruling?

Sony Sets the Green Standard

Good news from Sony, if you happen to live in Japan. Sony's new Bravia KDL-32JE1 is setting a new standard in efficiency, with a power consumption of only 89 Watts. The 32" monitor has a long list of features that make it not only good for your home theater, but also good for the whole planet.

Maple Leaf Going Green

Lucky for us, our northern neighbors are taking an interesting step towards going green. The Canadian government is announcing new standards to limit the power used by consumer electronics gear when they're in a standby mode. You know - those little red  lights on your equipment and receivers waiting for a signal from the remote control. You didn't think that electricity was needed for those sensors?

Curious about how much power stands to be saved?