[SGVLUG] help save the world, pwr off game consoles

[Dan Kegel]

On Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 11:42 AM, Solomon K. Chang <skevin521 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> --- On Fri, 11/21/08, Dan Kegel <dank at kegel.com> wrote:
>> Better: pass a bill requiring all consumer electronics
>> to consume less than one milliwatt if left idle
>> for more than half an hour...
>
> Oh, this "Kegel's Law" could have some interesting ramifications...
> ...

Your examples, while funny, are all inappropriate because
they did not involve consumer electronics.

Many manufacturers are voluntarily complying with
Energy Star specs:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=product_specs.pt_product_specs
There is room to develop these standards further
in cooperation with manufacturers.  For instance, they
require that powered off TVs consume less than one watt.
That figure could probably be reduced over time.

There are also other tools than requiring absolute
compliance.   One could levy a tax for
all consumer appliances that is proportional to
the amount of power they use in excess of the
Energy Star limits.  Or, more simply, proportional
to the amount of power they consume, period.
Industry would probably prefer the former :-)
- Dan