Aussie Government to ban fat-panel TVs
Save the planet, get out more
WITH AN EYE ON melting Antarctica, the Australian government is proposing regulations that would ban most plasma and LCD HDTVs by the year 2011.
After commissioning a report that found the popularity of high power-drawing TVs like plasma and LCD TVs is growing. The bigger and brighter screens get, the more power is required, and Australia is trying to crack down on energy consumption. This is the government that was looking into banning incandescent bulbs in favor of fluorescent bulbs earlier this year.
The government is proposing a new energy rating system based on six stars to inform consumers about the power performance of TVs.
The Australia Broadcasting Company (ABC) is reporting that under the proposed system the majority of current plasma HDTVs would not meet the requirements and would be removed from the market. In addition to placing limits on the maximum power consumption, the report also suggests that minimum energy performance standards should be put into place. This would keep poor performing products from being sold in Australia.
Tim O’Keefe, Australian Digital Suppliers Industry Forum coordinator feels that the guidelines are unreasonable because companies would be unable to meet the requirements by the time they are implemented.
Gene McGlynn, Australian Greenhouse Office spokesman, feels differently, “by the time the standard came into place, with the industry knowing that these standards are coming in, they can adjust their supply chains to make sure that the products will [meet the requirements].”
By 2011, plasma and LCD TVs could be replaced with less energy consuming technologies like SED TV and OLED TV. But for now, the planet heats up because of our TVs. µ
Comments
Fantastic
And did anyone in the Australian government consider how this utterly brilliant piece of legislation would affect the visually impaired? Until the invention of the Plasma TV the only way I could watch was by sitting close enough, which usually meant on the floor. The 42 inch set I picked up a couple of years ago is the first one I've ever owned that I can watch from the sofa.Besides, why are the world's government so obsessed with personal electronics and air travel as carbon sources, when everybody knows that the two biggest polluters by far are cars and heavy industry?
Oh, by the way, you might want to put some kind of alternative way of verifying that posters here aren't bots, that bloody visual image identifier thingy is an utter pain.
Wow
I did not know that the Austrialian Government was socialist. I guess we did not win the cold war after all. How about letting the people decide what tv's that they want to buy instead of forcing the decision down their throats.The race is on...
Will Australia catch up to the good ol' U.S. of A. in the race to pass the most rediculous laws? Only time will tell...but it looks like the Aussies are catching up.As for the anti-bot thingy, I visit a site that requires the poster to add two numbers together and the sum is what the non-bot types in the box. I think its a really good idea. It has the added benefit of weeding out those who are not capable of making even a slightly intelligent comment. I'm sure most readers here wouldn't have a problem with it though...or would they?
aussie power mad!
In a country where the sun never stops shining, what are they on about, if they ever bothered to build solar panals and build solar panel farms, along side fitting panels to every home, then i would imagine they would solve the green issue and use less oil and gas and coal.Just think what they might ban next, the lastest cpu's, motherboards, graphics cards, along side consoles.
Just because your crap at rugby, dont take out a a poor lcd tv now.
Huh?
LCDs draw less power than CRTs. My 37" LCD hanging on the wall draws about the same wattage of my old 25" CRT that it replaced.Check your article title
I don'[t see a problem as long as only the "fat-panel" TV's are banned and they leave the "flat-panel" TV's alone.Wow. Just... wow.
You've got to hand it to Australia... nothing like having the balls to make a stand and tell the entire population how big their TVs are allowed to be, and precisely how they should spend their money on the power they buy.Presumably large speakers will also be outlawed, as they use a lot of power, and movie theaters? Also furnaces and air conditioners, which are particularly inefficient, as *all* they produce is heat.
Idiots.
Two biggest polluters eh?
Just wanted to point out to Gordon that last time I checked, household emissions were the largest contributer (in developed countries), although heavy industry and cars are still a major problem.This tackles the household problem head on, however much it is a pain to those with large home cinema-sized flat screens.
I guess the slogan should be "Stop global warming! Destroy an HDTV, save a penguin and your beach!".
Meh
So how much more power than your standard 32" CRT are these new displays slurping?Methinks they don't have much to worry about in Oz...
She’ll no tak it Cap’n
A good part of this stems from the Aussie National Grid (National Electricity Market/NEM) being in such a sorry state. They can wrap it up in as much concern about global warming as they want, Their electrical transmission system can't handle the load it's under now, nevermind a few million more big screen tellies burning up the wires.banning lights
"This is the government that was looking into banning incandescent bulbs in favor of fluorescent bulbs earlier this year."As a Canadian, I can say that we (at least in Ontario) have banned incandescent bulbs, i think they will be phased out by 2011 or thereabouts...which is really a great idea, they save a heap of juice, and last longer. The only problem is price (not that big an issue), and there *still* arent any CF recycling programs, which will result in a lot of mercury ending up in our landfills....
It seems that when the government implements a good idea, they still find a way to mess it up and hurt the environment....c'est la vie
It's not about the Watts...
..., but about the POWER. Every legislator knows the way to grow government is to create ever more silly laws to get the average person used to being pushed around and micro-managed. Never mind that such a system never brings prosperity to the nation - it brings prosperity to the legislators.I imagine Hillary will try the same thing if sleeping America abdicates freedom and elects her....
reports greatly exaggerated
Plasma and LCD panels' power consumption is being considered for their effects on the environment. Reports of their imminent banning are greatly exaggerated - especially with an imminent federal election.And the ABC is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation - the independent national public broadcaster.
oops - and I flamed author before realising I should have hit the comment link
why not just force everyone to buy solar panels?
This is stupid.. Australia gets lot of sun exposure.. and wind too maybe? if they are so concerned with electronics drawing more power all they have to do is finance self-sustainable energy sources. A single solar panel on your rooftop should offset the power your new plasma tv needs to make it "qualify" under their 6-star system. No?OLEDS
Don't panic. Wide screen flat panels won't go away. They'll just be made using new technologies like organic light emitting polymers that are more energy efficient. Sony is already selling these and Kodak are using them on some of their cameras.Noel.
Let's try getting our facts straight, okay?
This is Malcolm Turnbull we're talking about. We in Australia are still trying to work out why this man was made environment minister. Of course, it fits perfectly with the government's policy of giving racists the immigration and indigenous policy jobs, for example.http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/11/2056313.htm
Environment Minister rules out plasma 'ban'
Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull has ruled out banning plasma screen televisions.
A report commissioned by the Federal Government says there is a growing demand for plasma and LCD televisions, which use more power than traditional TV sets.
It says energy rating labels are needed to tell consumers about the performance of the TVs.
But under a proposed six-star rating system, most current plasma TVs do not meet the requirements and could be removed from sale.
But Mr Turnbull says the rating system would not mean the death of flat-screen TVs.
"Reports of the death of LCD and plasma TVs are grossly exaggerated - there is no plan to phase out or ban LCD or plasma TVs," he said.
"This is not a question of denying people choice, it's an objective of informing choice."
ridiculous
ridiculous .mandating CFL light bulbs was genius.
this.is. poorly. thought. out.
if they are going to pursue this knock off the LCD's and add CRT tv's
my god. if they want to save power ban microwaves. electric dryers. elevators. vacuums...
they shouldn't even by worrying about power consumption. they have the most free area
and ideal conditions for solar cells.
mandate every house have a 2kw solar voltaic array on their house.
wonderfull idea
it is a wonderfull idea, and while i am sorry for the visually impared. Dont you think having a world worth living in is more important? I know the goverment makes nice money from heavy industries so the chances of stopping that is unlikely. At least in america, the lobyist and industries make up the biggest contributors to politics.p.s. the verification code seems to repeat very often
Umm..ok
This legislation is completely idiotic. Air conditioning completely dwarfs all other home appliances in terms of energy consumption. They are trying to improve on a small percentage of the energy pie, and by statistical definition will make absolutely no difference in home energy consumption. If they truly wanted to make homes more efficient, they would require more intelligent construction methods that take advantage of natural cooling/heating. Seeing as how Australia is in the midst of a soon to pop massive housing bubble, I doubt that will happen.Conservation never works anyway. They would be better served in investing in renewable energy like solar, wind, and fast burning nuclear fission. Investment in electric cars would also serve them well from both an environmental and business point of view. This is just a pointless political move to make environmentalists think they are doing something.
it can help
In the US 45% of co2 is from making electric power 20% from cars.California is baning the incandescent light bulb. i hope more places do this too. If there are not alternatives to the lcd and plasma tv yet maybe the law is a bit early but this is what needs to be done if we want to reduce co2.
It is fantastic
Gordon, I agree that it might cause some temporary problems. However, in the long run it's a good thing; SED and OLED are already getting better by the month, and 2011 is a decent way off yet.While cars and heavy industry make up some tens of percent of energy consumption, households make up that much too; every sector needs improvement, not just one which doesn't affect you.
If no one can indulge in buck-shifting, we might actually do something toward reducing our energy dependence.
They need to do the same thing that they're planning for TVs with air-con too though.
Stupid Law
Now that, is a very very stupid law. As if TVs had a real influence on CO2 emissions (assuming that they matter). And as if TV manufacturers could reduce power consumption just like that...RE: Fantastic
i second that Gordonall small pieces help, but let them go after the big polluters first instead of chasing after us small guys
start selling cleaner cars and make the heavy industry clean up after themselves
electricity?
I have to say that although it's very good indeed to make people aware about power consumption problems, goverments fail muserably in doing so.For example they pleed that by changing light bulbs or using laptops and descreasing power usage all enviromental problems magically disapear. Things aren't so.
It is at least annoying by far, to see people talk to you about using enviromental friendly devices, while at the same time they drive their big SUVs, not caring at all about gas consumption. Sad individuals indeed.
The thing is...
... that you should go out more, or socialize or anything but sit like a potato in oil in front of the TV. And you could always bring that LCD, beein 42" or smaller, closer to you since it doesn't weight 50KGs... jezz... f*****g TV people...Fantastic (Indeed)
OFFS. Ever stop to think how you are going to watch your 42" plasma under water. Truly you are very short sighted.The Ozzy Govt obviously have balls to suggest something like this. Clearly it wont be popular. I say fair play to them. At least it appears they are not trying to pass bills to shaft the little folk further down the line. Hopefully they might try to branch out and start a party over here.
Big screen and poluters
Projectors are the way to go for big screens. Bright, low power bulbs are not commercial yet, but ready for market. My PJ250 is only 120W.Big poluters: Commercial airlines are the biggest next to coal burning plants.
Intersting
I can understand wanting to make the public aware of the energy use of such appliances, but a ban? I don't think it will matter much in a few years anyway, once OLED becomes standard.Also, I believe the mass switchout from incandescent to compact flourescent is wonderful. No need for that utterly wastful technology to continue, none. Only problem is flourescent bulbs carry trace amounts of mercury, and most people do not recycle them properly. Then again, OLED's will fix that in a few years as well. Oh the wonders of science.
cool
there's been limits on automobiles for years .. why not limiting the juice used by an appliance ?Wow.. just Wow - Correction
To correct David W.It is not large speakers that take the power it is the amplifiers...
You can get a very decent LARGE pair of american Horns which will blow your mind off with a 20W class-A single ended Triode amp...
for example I have a wonderful pair of Mark Levinson 334's in bridged mode that rock with my B&W's - and they keep the house wrm during the winter. No need for heating at all...now that's what I call saving electricity...
regards
Pretty stupid
Well granted we do need to cut down on what we are using but we have LCD TV's use far less power then CRT's however Plasma Displays use ALOT of power far far more then CRT's so i can under stand them being banned but LCD's are quite effeicent.True..
..Australia has become an energy funny farm. Charcoal based electricity generators all over the place drying up our river systems, polluting the air everywhere. Indonesian smog adds to our air "quality", but the Australian consumer must save the planet by using low-energy products.Good to hear
I think its good to see somethings are being done. I mean come on who realy needs a 52" TV with a 15,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio!!I just wish they also put a regulation on cars. no one needs anything more then 6 cylinders no matter what they do. And all you that complain are pathetic people with to much money and free time!
Do you folks not get it?
They aren't banning big televisions, they are banning televisions that use too much energy.We will still have big TVs, they will just be more efficient because they have to be to meet the standards.
If the manufacturers can't get their energy consumption down in 4 years they just aren't trying.