California to Boost Energy Efficiency in Computers and Monitors

People love to spend a lot of time on their computers. Others really don’t want to spend significant time in front of a screen, but their job requires this of them. While both reasons for staying glued to a desk chair are different, the end result is the same: the computers are draining up power. The state of California has taken notice of energy efficiency related to computers and is putting forth regulations.


Both computers and monitors are going to be required to meet efficiency standards. The goal here is to cut down on energy consumption when the computers are not being actively used. The “touch and go” approach to computer usage can lead to a drop in energy efficiency. Someone working on a computer may stop for a bit and allow the device to go idle. The screensaver will prevent burn-in so no harm done. Well, some harm is being done since energy is being drained by a computer that really isn’t being used.


The regulations are intended to cut down on energy consumption and will slowly be phased in over a three-year period starting in 2018. Likely, a lot of consumers are going to purchase computers before these regulations go into effect. No, that is not because they do not want to conserve or preserve the environment. They might be worried about the choices of computers being sold in the Golden State once the regulations have been approved.


Manufacturers are not going to make all their models appropriate for the California area. While California is a large consumer market and the state is hugely populous, there are other parts of the country in which manufacturers sell their wares. Manufacturing may only choose to modify a select number of models specifically for the California market. This is one reason why the three-year plan is put into effect. The 36 months allows manufacturers to make plans to effectively release products into the state. Sellers in the state do not end up being blindsided by unexpectedly having less stock available to them.


Taking steps to improve efficiency is clearly a major priority of the government in California. Regulators and legislators, however, do not want to harm any segment of the state’s economy. Doing so would bring forth other problems.