U.S. News
Biden announces new environmental regulations for refrigerators, appliances
By Jake Beardslee · December 31, 2023
In brief…
- Biden administration announced new efficiency standards for refrigerators, freezers, and commercial fans on Friday.
- DOE says standards will cut carbon emissions and save consumers money over time.
- DOE has pursued over 30 efficiency standards actions in 2023 targeting various appliances.
- Administration pledges to continue issuing such regulations in 2024.
The Biden administration announced new environmental regulations on Friday targeting household refrigerators, freezers, and commercial fans and blowers. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), these actions will help reduce carbon emissions and save consumers money on utility bills over the next few decades.
The standards for refrigerators and freezers, which will be implemented between 2029-2030, are the first update in over a decade. DOE says they will eliminate the equivalent of 12.7 million homes’ worth of emissions over 30 years and save households $5 billion annually. Meanwhile, the proposed standards for fans and blowers will be the first federal regulations for those appliances. DOE projects they will cut 318 million tons of emissions over 30 years.
“Today, we released new standards for fridges & freezers that reflect a joint agreement with manufacturers & advocacy groups. This will save Americans $5B/year & underscores our ongoing work with industry partners to promote innovation & cut energy costs.” said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, in a post on X.
However, critics like Ben Lieberman of the Competitive Enterprise Institute argue the rules could raise upfront costs for consumers and reduce product performance. Lieberman said past efficiency standards for dishwashers have lengthened cycle times, Fox News Digital reported. But DOE contends its regulations since 2021 will save consumers nearly $1 trillion and avoid 2.5 billion tons of emissions.
DOE has pursued over 30 such actions in 2023. Appliance standards proposed or finalized this year cover items like washers, air conditioners, water heaters, and furnaces. DOE says its efforts align with President Biden’s climate agenda.