CTA Rips CEC Report on Computer Energy Use for Its ‘Inside-the-Box Thinking'

president-technology policy, of a final CEC staff report on energy efficiency standards for computers and monitors that got praise Friday from consumer groups (see 1609090063). CTA research shows that “even as we use more devices in our homes, their share of U.S. household electricity has declined,” Johnson emailed us Monday. “While the CEC undoubtedly has good intentions with this rulemaking, they continue to drive regulation by looking through the rear-view mirror,” Johnson said. “Every day our industry is innovating to create better, lighter and more energy efficient products. In the past few years, CTA has championed new approaches to saving energy and contributing to carbon emissions reduction goals.” Recent voluntary agreements on energy efficiency for pay-TV set-top boxes and small network equipment “are great examples of the private sector delivering energy savings faster than regulation while protecting innovation and competition, and avoiding costs and burdens to consumers and local businesses,” Johnson said. “Unfortunately, this regulatory proposal for computers and displays represents inside-the-box thinking at a time when both government and industry need to be agile and creative in developing less costly and less time-consuming solutions for saving energy,” Johnson said of CEC’s staff report. It said its proposed computer and monitor standards are “technically feasible and cost-effective to consumers and would save a significant amount of energy statewide.”