by Shane Henson — February 6, 2012—The state of California has striven to be a leader in advancing energy management solutions, and just recently, the California Energy Commission approved a first-in-the-nation energy efficiency standard that will reduce wasted energy by battery chargers used with cell phones, laptop computers, power tools, and other devices.
According to officials within the Energy Commission, the proposed standards can save nearly 2,200 gigawatt hours (GWh) each year, enough energy to power nearly 350,000 homes. Because nearly two-thirds of the 8,000 GWh of electricity consumed in California by battery charger systems (or battery chargers) is wasted by inefficiency, the Energy Commission proposed appliance efficiency standards requiring battery chargers to consume less energy while providing the same performance. Consumer chargers used in cell phones, personal care devices, and power tools will be required to comply with the new standards by February 1, 2013. Industrial charger compliance, such as forklifts, is required by January 1, 2014. Compliance for small commercial chargers, such as walkie-talkies and portable barcode scanners, is required by January 1, 2017.
As expected, these aggressive steps to reduce energy consumption have gained widespread praise, including by nonprofits such as the Natural Resources Defense Council and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The measures have also been endorsed by major utility companies such as Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas, as well as the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
“PG&E is a strong supporter of codes and standards as a vital tool in helping to achieve California’s clean energy goals. The battery charger standards adopted today are a very cost-effective way to reduce energy consumption, reduce customer costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Steve Malnight, vice president of customer energy solutions for PG&E.
