As Massachusetts is considering to become the second state (after California) to incorporate energy efficiency stipulations for televisions and other electronic devices like DVD players, it reveals an interesting pattern in the average American's energy consumption. Consumer electronics are becoming more and more prevalent throughout our homes and now represents 15% of our household energy usage. According to the International Energy Agency this number is expected to triple over the next couple decades.
There are not just more gadgets, but they are getting bigger and more sophisticated. This is the same path that many of our appliances have taken. Refrigerators used to be smaller while still using more electricity. A New York Times article from a couple weeks ago has an excellent chart showing the change in efficiency in our appliances since 1990. Advancements in energy efficiency has allowed us to store more cake... and it eat it too!
In 1990, refrigerator efficiency standards went into effect in the United States. Today, new refrigerators are fancier than ever, but their power consumption has been slashed by about 45 percent since the standards took effect. Likewise, thanks in part to standards, the average power consumption of a new washer is nearly 70 percent lower than a new unit in 1990.Energy efficiency has long been seen as the most cost effective way to lower our energy costs. It also provides a way for us to keep doing the things we want without having to pay more for them. If you want to watch ultra-sharp big screen TV all day that's your choice. Would it bother anyone if it cost less?
The aforementioned New York Times article.
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