More evidence of "eco-dissociative disorder" as the Daily Mail casts the plasma screen as the "next victim of the battle to curb energy use" taken off shopping lists by EU madmen. So to recap: plastic bags = bad/banned; incandescent lightbulbs and plasma screens = a question of civil liberties. Lord only knows where gas-guzzling Agas fit into all this.
I thought plasma screens – using four times as much electricity to power as ordinary TVs – were recognised as being a bit duff in any case. The earlier models had the life-expectancy of a mayfly.
Is it necessary to legislate against them? It turns out they are not going to be banned completely, but phased out, and TVs will have to carry energy ratings system (around 85% do already). A more visible energy rating label (mandatory) is a good idea for home electronics and badly needed since energy gains in overall manufacture are being offset by the increasing size of the products.
The energy labeling of white goods is imperfect (insiders say the tolerances for manufacturers are set far too high) but the consumer knows they can save energy (and money) by moving up a band. Why not have the same guidance for a TV?
