There was no wind-generated electricity, and we didn't have the nation's most advanced building and appliance efficiency standards as we later adopted.

WSJ: Allysia Finley: The Reverse-Joads of California

It's because of appliance and efficiency standards that we've been able to keep our energy usage relatively flat, and considering California is on average a warmer state, that's pretty amazing.

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Alan Meier, a government scientist who specializes in energy efficiency, says existing appliance power supplies are "energy vampires" sucking up to 10 percent of the electricity that comes into a home.

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Low household energy costs dampen demand for energy efficiency and most home-appliance manufacturers have hugely reduced their energy consumption in other ways.

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