Biden’s Green Energy Clampdown on Washing Machines, Refrigerators Sparks Concern
The Biden administration’s new “energy-efficiency standards” Industry experts are concerned about the new rules for washing machines and refrigerators. They fear that they could lead to higher energy prices and more costly products.
The Department of Energy (DOE) last month proposed new efficiency standards for washing machines, claiming that they would “lower household energy costs” While helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “climate crisis.”
Under the proposed rules (pdf), which would take effect in 2027, washing machines and refrigerators would be required to meet a more stringent set of energy efficiency standards and use considerably less water.
This department would also stop manufacturers from “undercutting those playing by the rules” Providers are asked to provide “inferior-quality products.”
According to the DOE, consumers will be able to save more than $60 billion in three decades by using these new rules. However, most products that meet these standards are already available for commercial sale.
Industry experts and manufacturers are concerned about the new standards. They claim that they could decrease washer cleaning performance and increase the cost of washing machines.
“When you’re squeezing all you can out of efficiency in terms of electricity use and water … you by definition either make the appliance worse or slower,” Travis Fisher, a senior research fellow at Heritage Foundation’s Center for Energy, Climate, and Environment, told the Washington Free Beacon. “Why are we so focused on the energy output, as opposed to if it’s helping me wash my clothes?
“This standard is kinda off the rails.” Fisher said.
“They continue to raise standards, but I don’t think their reasoning is any more logical.”
Standards Could ‘Harm Consumers’
Elsewhere, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) stated that a majority of appliances covered by the program now operate at peak efficiency, meaning that the additional standards are unlikely to result in significant energy gains.
“Manufacturers and consumers will be more expensive to meet federal efficiency standards, but they won’t provide significant energy savings.” the organization stated. “The current policy may not be changed and could compromise product performance.”
American Enterprise Institute senior fellow James Coleman told Fox News Digital, “Like many efficiency standards, the government claims that although these standards will raise the cost of appliances, they are justified because they will reduce consumer spending on energy and water even more.
“Of course, if that were true, consumers would likely buy more efficient appliances anyway, given that studies show consumers consider energy and water costs,” He said.
“If consumers do fully consider what they will pay on energy in their individual circumstances, then the standards would, on-net, harm consumers.”
Jennifer Granholm, U.S. secretary of energy, said that the regulations will build on “a decades-long effort with industry to ensure tomorrow’s appliances work more efficiently and save Americans money.”
“Over the last 40 years, at the direction of Congress, DOE has worked to promote innovation, improve consumers’ options, and raise efficiency standards for household appliances without sacrificing the reliability and performance that Americans have come to expect,” She spoke.
According to the DOE, the proposed rules would save U.S. consumers about $3.5 billion a year on their energy and water bills, while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 233 million metric tons.
Cleaning performance may be affected
However, it also noted that about 25 percent of top-loading standard-size clothes washer consumers and 24 percent of front-loading (compact and standard-size) clothes washer consumers “would experience a net cost.”
“DOE acknowledges the larger impact on senior-only households as a result of smaller households and lower average annual use, but notes that the average LCC [life-cycle cost] savings are still positive,” The department said.
The DOE also stated that it accepts that generalization. “a consumer-acceptable level of cleaning performance can be easier to achieve through the use of higher amounts of energy and water use during the clothes washer cycle.”
“Conversely, maintaining acceptable cleaning performance can be more difficult as energy and water levels are reduced.”
The department also stated that manufacturers would incur $690.8 million in conversion costs to bring the products into compliance with the amended standards.
Still, the department noted that it’s authorized to regulate the energy efficiency of a number of consumer products and certain industrial equipment every six years under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which Congress approved in 1975.
The latest regulations come after the DOE proposed a maximum annual gas consumption of 1,204 thousand British thermal units for all gas cooking tops, a rule that, if finalized, would remove up to half the current gas cooking appliances on the U.S. market.
The White House has insisted that President Joe Biden doesn’t support such a ban.
The Epoch Times requested comment from The Department of Energy but the Department of Energy did not respond.
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