Biden Admin suggests tighter rules for ceiling fans.
The U.S. Department of Energy Proposes Energy Efficiency Standards for Ceiling Fans
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has recently introduced new rules that aim to enhance energy efficiency in ceiling fans. This initiative follows similar restrictions imposed on household appliances like gas stoves and portable gas generators.
The proposed DOE rule, announced in June, would require ceiling fans to meet higher energy efficiency standards. According to the agency, consumers using a standard fan could save up to $39.84 over the lifespan of the appliance with these new measures. Considering that a ceiling fan typically lasts for around six to 10 years, this could result in significant savings. It is estimated that around 85 million American households use at least one ceiling fan, with a quarter of them using four or more.
Traditionally, ceiling fans have been seen as a cost-effective and convenient alternative to air conditioners. However, the DOE is determined to help Americans save approximately $4 per year with these new guidelines.
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The DOE’s restrictions on gas stoves also project minimal savings for consumers, with the figure recently being revised to an even lower amount. The industry group Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) stated that the original proposal aimed to save consumers 13 cents per month in utility costs over the life of gas cooking products. However, the revised data reduces consumer savings to just 9 cents per month, amounting to $1.08 per year and $10.80 over a decade.
Regarding ceiling fan regulations, the DOE estimates that manufacturers may have to invest $86.6 million per year in increased equipment costs.
In response to the proposal, Republicans from the House Committee on Small Business sent a letter to DOE Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm on August 24. The letter criticized the potential negative impact on small businesses in the ceiling fan industry, stating that the rule could force between 10 and 30 percent of small business ceiling fan manufacturers out of business. The committee requested more information from the DOE, including the agency’s assessment of the rule’s impact on small manufacturers and whether some manufacturers would need to abandon certain product lines to comply with the regulations. The DOE has until August 30 to respond to the committee’s request.
Ban Affects Consumer Choice
A spokesperson for the DOE defended the proposed ceiling fan regulations, emphasizing that they would not take effect until 2028, as required by Congress. The spokesperson stated that the rules would provide Americans with more energy-efficient options and save taxpayers up to $369 million per year while significantly reducing harmful air pollution.
However, Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.) expressed concerns about the impact of these measures on consumer choice and appliance affordability. In a letter to Ms. Granholm, she highlighted the importance of affordable cooling options, particularly during hot summer months and a period of high inflation. Rep. Bice urged the DOE to withdraw the proposed rule entirely and criticized the agency’s broader efforts to regulate appliances like water heaters and gas stoves, considering them a significant overreach of the federal government.
The ceiling fan regulations are part of the Biden administration’s pro-climate policy push. In January 2021, President Biden signed an executive order mandating the DOE to establish an energy conservation program for appliance standards. The agency subsequently listed numerous energy-efficiency rules for appliances such as lamps, cooking products, and water heaters that it would review.
Rep. Bill Cline (R-Va.) expressed opposition to these regulations, stating, “First, they went after your car. Then, they targeted your gas stoves. Now, they are coming for your ceiling fans. America will continue to reject the Biden Climate Police’s authoritarianism.”
Biden’s Crackdown On Appliances
In February, the DOE proposed rules to establish new efficiency and conservation standards for home appliances, including gas stoves. If implemented, these rules would affect half of all new models of gas stoves sold in the United States and render most existing models noncompliant, according to Republicans on the committee.
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