Posted on 09/10/2007 6:57:31 AM PDT by Crazieman
THE Conservatives will propose banning plasma screens and other energy-guzzling electrical goods in a report to be unveiled next week.
The proposals target white goods like fridges and freezers, as well as TVs, personal computers and DVD players that use too much energy or operate on stand-by.
The ideas come from a Conservative group set up by David Cameron to develop policies to protect the environment and although the measures to make household electrical appliances more energy efficient are not binding on Mr Cameron, they are thought likely to be warmly received by the Tory leader.
The group will also suggest scrapping Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a measure of the nation’s success in favour of a model that measures people’s happiness drawn up up by Friends of the Earth.
Under the proposals, a cap could be set on the energy use of each electrical appliance, and those exceeding limits could be banned from sale in the UK.
A new labelling requirement could be introduced to inform consumers of products’ annual energy consumption compared with other similar appliances.
And there could be a ban on electrical goods with stand-by lights which can stay on indefinitely. Some 2 per cent of Britain’s total electricity use is currently taken up by appliances left on stand-by rather than being switched off.
The proposals are set to be unveiled on Thursday in the final report of the Tories’ Quality of Life Policy Group, chaired by former Environment Secretary John Gummer and green activist Zac Goldsmith, a Conservative spokesman confirmed.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has already announced his ambition to “eliminate” the stand-by function on appliances, which was blasted by the Government’s energy review last year as a waste of electricity.
The report is expected to focus on plasma-screen TVs as particularly wasteful of electricity, and it is thought that many models would fall foul of proposed energy cap unless dramatically more efficient technology is developed.
Householders are also expected to be offered tax cuts potentially worth thousands of pounds to make their homes more energy-efficient.
Mr Gummer warned: “We live in a joined-up world and yet we organise our lives in silos. The imperative of global warming demands that we change that approach utterly - not just governments, but businesses, groups and individuals.”
sounds like Amish trying to drum up members
They can have my Plasma TV—WHEN THEY PRY IT FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS!!!!
Well, why stop there, Limeys, just ban electricity. That’ll save lots o’ energy ...
With “conservatives” such as these who needs liberals?
We have a conservitave m.p. here in Australia (In charge of the Green Party).His name is Peter Garret(Ex lead singer of Midnight Oil.This kook wants to ban off-peak hot water heaters.If he suceeds (which I think not,)then we will have to have cold showers.
This is one of yours, right? No? OMG! This is life imitating parody!!! Who knew England had a Luddite cycle to sync up with the climate cycle.
Great. Another crazy idea for edwards to run with. They must be in kahoots. He’ll probably say that he thought it up himself first.
I prefer LCD displays my self
Oh for Frag’s sake Cameron.
Geeeeezzzzz.........all the manufacturers have to do is put in a timing device that disconnects the TV from the power source if it’s not used for an hour or more. All TV’s are basically still on when you turn them off. Not like the old ones that when you turn them off, they’re off. Instant on TV’s are always on, you just don’t get the picture. GET THE PICTURE?
“The proposals target white goods like fridges and freezers”
White goods? Is this a racist thing?
I know with several of my old school CRTs, if you disconnect them from the electricity you have to basically reprogram them every time you turn them on. Not something I, or anyone else would be interested in doing every time we watch tv.
No GDP by numbers....
Just FEEEEELINGS index.
the Happy Joy Joy Index.
Why not ban the laws of physics while we’re at it. They are so inefficient..............
I have all LCD's, You can't heat the room with one like the plasmas but to me they are just as good with a lower price tag.
I prefer LCD displays my self
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Yah, in addition to this idea being socialist, enviro-fascist, luddite, and intrusive, the market will end the “issue.” LCD TV’s are more durable, less expensive, and more popular.
I also like the fact they are lighter than plasma
Rope off Britain, they might be contagious...
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