December 27, 2004—At a recent business meeting, the California Energy Commission approved new regulations to make appliances sold in the state the most energy efficient in the nation.
The new energy standards regulate appliances such as incandescent lamps; audio and video equipment; evaporative coolers; ceiling fans, exhaust fans and whole house fans; commercial ice makers, refrigerators and freezers; vending machines; commercial hot food holding cabinets and water dispensers, among others. The regulations go into effect on a staggered schedule beginning in January 2006.
The new regulations also cover external power supplies, the small transformers that are used to power answering machines, cell and cordless phones, and a host of other small consumer products and small appliances. These devices draw electricity whenever they are plugged in to an electrical socket, even if the product they are powering is not in use.
States are allowed to regulate appliances not covered by national standards. The federal government has already adopted energy efficiency standards for residential refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers and other appliances once covered by state regulation. None of the appliances in this ruling are federally regulated.
