California Energy Commission Adopts New Battery Charger Standards

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— Battery chargers aren't the most energy efficient devices and their growing presence in homes has a state energy commission concerned. New rules are being adopted to save consumers on money and electricity.

"There are 170 million chargers out in California. Each home has an average of 11," said Adam Gottlieb with the California Energy Commission.

The agency just approved a first of its kind in energy efficient standards for all those cell phone and digital camera battery chargers that keep adding up.

KCBS' Dave Padilla Reports:

Gottlieb said nearly two-thirds of the electricity used to power electronic devices is wasted.

New energy efficient rules require that any consumer products built after February 2013 will have to meet the new standards.

"We're looking at saving enough energy to power nearly 350,000 homes. That's a city the size of Bakersfield. What's important is that we're looking at saving over $300 million for California's rate payers."

He added that historically, California has been a leader on energy-efficiency standards.

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