The Biden administration unveiled a regulatory proposal late Friday targeting water heaters, the latest in a string of energy efficiency actions cracking down on home appliances.
The Department of Energy (DOE) said its proposal would ultimately “accelerate deployment” of electric heat pump water heaters, save Americans billions of dollars, and vastly reduce carbon emissions. [emphasis, links added]
If finalized, the proposed standards would force less energy-efficient, but cheaper water heaters off the market.
“Today’s actions — together with our industry partners and stakeholders — improve outdated efficiency standards for common household appliances, which is essential to slashing utility bills for American families and cutting harmful carbon emissions,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement.
“This proposal reinforces the trajectory of consumer savings that forms the key pillar of Bidenomics and builds on the unprecedented actions already taken by this Administration to lower energy costs for working families across the nation,” she continued.
Overall, the DOE projected the regulations, which are slated to go into effect in 2029, would save Americans about $198 billion while curbing emissions by 501 million metric tons over the next three decades.
That’s roughly the same carbon footprint as 63 million homes or half of all homes nationwide.
Under the rule, the federal government would require higher efficiency for heaters using heat pump technology or, in the case of gas-fired water heaters, to achieve efficiency gains through condensing technology.
Non-condensing gas-fired water heaters, though, are far cheaper and smaller, meaning they come with lower installation costs.
According to the DOE, water heating accounts for 13% of annual residential energy use and consumer utility costs.
In addition to water heaters, over the last several months, the DOE has unveiled new standards for a wide variety of other appliances including gas stoves, clothes washers, refrigerators, and air conditioners.
The agency’s comment period on a separate dishwasher regulatory proposal concluded Tuesday.
According to the current federal Unified Agenda, a government-wide semiannual list that highlights regulations agencies plan to propose or finalize within the next 12 months, the Biden administration is additionally moving forward with rules impacting dozens more appliances, including consumer furnaces, pool pumps, battery chargers, ceiling fans, and dehumidifiers.
The Biden administration boasted in December that it had taken 110 actions on energy efficiency rules in 2022 alone as part of its climate agenda.
The DOE said Friday that, all together, its appliance regulations will save Americans $570 billion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2.4 billion metric tons over the next 30 years.
However, consumer groups and experts have criticized the administration over its aggressive energy efficiency campaign. They have argued the new regulations will reduce consumer choice and increase costs for Americans.
“It’s just spreading to more and more appliances. It seems that almost everything that plugs in or fires up around the house is either subject to a pending regulation or soon will be,” Ben Lieberman, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, previously told Fox News Digital.
“Consumers aren’t going to like any of it,” he added. “These rules are almost always bad for consumers for the simple reason that they restrict consumer choice.”
Read more at Fox News
The Dept of Energy wants to sell us a Bridge
The claim by Department of Energy that its actions would “save Americans billions of dollars” reminds of the UK. People were told that going to renewable energy would lower their power bills. I’m not sure of the exact figure, but since then the rate change for power has about tripled.
If actions taken by the DOE truly did save Americans money, then no action at all would be needed by government. People will use the least expensive options available. I’m sure the truth is “cracking down on home appliances” would cost Americans a lot of money if it happens. Fortunately this as well as many actions by Biden will most likely be struck down court. What they are doing is an over reach.
Big Brother in your home regulating your appliance to make sure you comply with Der Fehrer Bidens Dictatorial orders Biden and the UN/CFR
The Democrats haven’t wavered much since Biden won the White House. Whatever Trump did, undo it. Do the opposite of what Trump would do. Trump mocked the latest energy efficient appliances, so the Dem’s mandate them. Biden didn’t defeat Trump’s policies, he defeated Trump. Bidenomics is so bad they rebranded the Green New Deal as the Inflation Reduction Act. What percentage of Biden’s budget goes to paying interest on the national debt?
They’re in dangerous territory. Suburban women will not like the government screwing with their appliances.