According to the Los Angeles Times, California has decided to impose energy standards on battery chargers. The California Energy Commission voted 3-0 to require battery chargers, including cellphones, power tools and computers, to be more efficient. The changes will take effect in 2013 and impact around 170 million devices while saving an estimated $306 million a year in electricity bills.
The state's new rules go into effect Feb. 1, 2013, for chargers used for consumer goods and will be extended to industrial chargers on Jan. 1, 2014. With California becoming the first state to enact these kinds of standards, here are some energy use statistics and facts on other ways energy efficiency standards have changed:
* The share of residential electricity used by electronics and appliances has increased from 17 percent to 31 percent in the U.S. over the past 30 years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
* Despite this increase in energy use from appliances and electronics, energy use per household decrease by 31 percent and overall household energy use also fell.
* In February 2009, President Barack Obama signed a presidential memorandum asking the U.S. Department of Energy to increase efficiency standards for numerous household appliances, according to CBS News.
* Obama noted higher efficiency standards would help motivate innovation, save consumers money, and also help conserve large amounts of energy.
* The Environmental Protection Agency announced in early 2011 that televisions under the Energy Star rating must use 40 percent less energy than conventional models starting in September, reported USA Today.
* Additionally, Energy Star TVs are expected to represent 70 percent of the market because of the demand from consumer for more efficient appliances and support from retailers.
* Based on the findings of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, Massachusetts is the most energy efficient state in the country, followed by California, New York and Oregon.
* The ACEEE also concluded total budget for electricity efficiency programs totaled $4.5 billion in 2010 and 29 states have either adopted or made progress towards adopted the newest set of energy-saving building codes.
* In 2009, the DOE announced $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act would be available to states and territories to help promote the purchase of Energy Star appliances through consumer rebates.
* Rebates differ from state to state and are also made available on a variety of different household appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers, furnaces, clothes washers, and air conditioners.
Rachel Bogart provides an in-depth look at current environmental issues and local Chicago news stories. As a college student from the Chicago suburbs pursuing two science degrees, she applies her knowledge and passion to both topics to garner further public awareness.
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