Consumer advocates are pushing California to enact tough new energy efficiency rules for computer monitors.

The Consumer Federation of America said computer monitors waste millions of dollars worth of electricity and the situation can be corrected.

Mark Cooper, executive director of the group, is asking California regulators to adopt first-in-the-nation rules to require more energy-efficient monitors.

"There's no doubt that the direction they're going in will save consumers money — significant money over the life of these devices," Cooper said.

The group argued there is no market pressure to bring the standards up and that's why the California Energy Commission should adopt new rules.

"When we have devices that are plugged into the wall, like computers, the consumer really doesn't see the energy consumption of that device," Cooper said. "It gets lost in the bill. It's not the primary focus of the device. They want something that functions. There's no marketplace pressure for them to be more efficient."

California has a chance to set standards that will be adopted by the rest of the nation, Cooper said.

Huong Truong