The only outliers in DisplaySearch's data for Tier 1 were 1080p plasma models--and plasma technology already had a reputation for being an energy hog; however, it's important to note that not all of the plasmas fell outside the Tier 1 range. Not surprisingly, Panasonic--the major manufacturer of plasma televisions--was recently touting how much more energy efficient its sets have become.

According to the CEC, the California regulations echo the EPA's Energy Star 4.0 standards for screen sizes up to 42 inches. Beyond that, "where Energy Star is a staggered step, this is a fixed formula based [on screen area] that is both technology neutral and performance based. The formula is based on Energy Star 3.0, but it goes beyond that," says Gottlieb.

In short, the differences between the two are not dramatic--the CEC's requirements are ultimately not any more stringent than the Energy Star guidelines.

Today, the Energy Star 3.0 spec limits active power consumption for a 32-inch HDTV to 120 watts; the impending Energy Star 4.0 spec, which goes into effect in May 2010, drops that to 78W; and the spec for Energy Star 5.0 (due in May 2012) is 55W. For a 50-inch set, the current Energy Star 3.0 spec limits power consumption to 353W; for Energy Star 4, that drops to 153W; and for Energy Star 5.0, that drops to 108W.