Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 2 Jul 2006 10:48:36 +0100, Tim Lamb wrote:

If they were serious surely legislation could prohibit the sale of
equipment fitted with standby mode.

Then lots more stuff would be left fully on... They ought to insist that
*everything* goes to standby after say 3hrs of "no use". I doubt that
many videos, set top boxes, TV's, computer systems etc that are actually
in use don't get some user input every 3 hrs or less.

Tryng to force everyone into one-third-considered solutions is no
solution. Thats the kind of thinking that brought us part P.

A better solution would be to require info tags for new electrical
goods. These would state the annual use cost with stated conditions so
buyers suddenly have an incentive to buy more efficient goods. They
could also state estimated product life, though there would inevitably
be argument there. Items with tags saying 'no information' would be
permitted, but this is effectively admitting the worst, so many mfrs
would want to rate and declare their goods.

Since tag information is all optional, you can still buy whatever you
want if you like. It will create a market for energy efficiency. And
importantly, it avoids forcing a hypothesised and expensive solution on
everyone, it allows manufacturers, sellers and buyers to say no to the
scheme, it allows for the scheme to not work if thats how it turns out
without a load of new costs and obligations being lumbered on everyone.


NT