NEWS RELEASE: Innovation Is The Real Driver Of Energy Savings

CEA Objects to Suggestion that New Energy Regulations Are Needed for Consumer Electronics

March 9, 2012

Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® Vice President of Technology Policy Douglas Johnson issued the following response today to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's report "The Efficiency Boom: Cashing In on the Savings from Appliance Standards." "The consumer electronics industry shares the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's desire to promote energy efficiency in residential and commercial devices and equipment, but we differ on whether a government-mandated regime is the best way to get there. Electronics manufacturers are leading the way to energy efficiency through innovation, competition and market-oriented programs such as ENERGY STAR. Proscriptive and questionable regulations from government only impede this innovation with artificial and counterproductive limits." "To put the energy efficiency gains of consumer electronics products in context, the average TV sold in 2010 consumes far less energy than a 100 watt incandescent light bulb. CEA research has found the amount of electricity needed to power an LCD TV fell 63 percent from 2003 to 2010 and 41 percent for plasma TVs from 2008 to 2010 thanks to industry innovation, competition and the ENERGY STAR program." "We saw even more impressive stories of energy innovation across consumer electronics product categories at the 2012 International CES. I would urge those reviewing this report to first understand the energy savings achievements across our industry before calling for unjustified and onerous regulation of our products. In short, efficiency standards are backward-looking policy which is inappropriate for a forward-looking industry."

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