Meeting our our future energy needs is going to require a combination of approaches. More efficient power stations, different energy sources, and more energy-efficient devices will all help. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been helping US consumers choose energy-efficient devices for quite a while now through its Energy Star rating. This week, the EPA released new guidelines that will require TVs and cable/satellite boxes to be 40 percent more efficient than they are now to gain that coveted Energy Star label.

One of the main requirements is the need to reduce power consumption during sleep mode or standby, something we've covered in the past. Devices will have to draw 2 watts or less, down from 16 watts currently. The new guidelines should also encourage the greater adoption of thin clients around the house, which I think many of us have been calling out for all along.

There are other changes afoot for consumer electronics. Beginning in May of this year, TVs will be required to have the same kind of yellow labels showing you just how much electricity they'll cost you each year as are currently found on washing machines, dishwashers, and other appliances. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wants all TVs manufactured after May 11, 2011 to carry the labels, and online retailers must display them starting a month later.