(New York Times 18 Nov 09) Recognizing that giant new flat-panel televisions have become major power guzzlers, California on Wednesday became the first state to impose energy efficiency standards on them.

The California Energy Commission voted unanimously to apply the standard, which would take effect in 2011. There is no federal energy-efficiency standard for televisions.

California, which often leads the nation in taking action on environmental issues, banned power-hungry refrigerators and air- conditioners in the 1970s and has enforced strong energy codes on residential and commercial buildings for decades. But the new regulation may prove the most challenging to consumers’ tastes.

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New York Times 18 Nov 09: California imposes rule for efficiency on some TVs