The Biden administration has announced new efficiency regulations for dishwashers, beverage vending machines, and electric motors. These regulations are meant to reduce energy consumption and combat climate change. According to the Energy Department, these regulations will save households and businesses money on their utility bills while encouraging innovation that reduces carbon pollution.
Under the new regulations, dishwashers imported into the United States beginning in 2027 would need to consume 27% less power and use 34% less water than current models. This could result in an increase of up to $15 in the cost of a new dishwasher, but the Energy Department estimates that consumers will save three times as much in energy costs over the dishwasher’s lifetime. The regulations are estimated to save households $168 million each year on utility bills, while businesses will save $464 million annually and vending machine users will save $20 million annually.
The Energy Department has now introduced efficiency regulations for 16 product categories in 2023. These regulations are meant to ensure that household appliances, commercial and industrial equipment maintain reliability and performance.
The Biden administration has also proposed new emissions rules for natural gas stoves, which have been met with controversy. Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Alex Hoehn-Saric later posted a statement saying that the agency does not plan to outlaw gas stoves. The state of New York has approved legislation that will effectively ban the installation of gas stoves in new homes and buildings as early as 2026. According to data from the Energy Information Administration, 38% of households nationwide use gas stoves for cooking, with the figure rising to 70% in some states.
Finally, the Energy Department has unveiled new efficiency standards for air conditioners and the first federal standards for portable air cleaners. They have also introduced a final rule that requires single-section and multi-section mobile homes to meet new climate-dependent energy conservation measures. This could raise the cost of large mobile homes between $4,100 and $4,500, an increase from the average cost of $81,400 for newly manufactured mobile homes.
Overall, the Biden administration has taken several actions to reduce energy usage and combat climate change. These regulations are expected to save households and businesses money on their utility bills and encourage innovation to reduce carbon pollution. While the regulations have been met with controversy, the Energy Department has asserted that these regulations are necessary for maintaining the reliability and performance of household appliances and other equipment.
