Biden’s Energy Department cracks down on dishwashers.

Breaking News: Biden Administration Takes Action to Combat Climate Change

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm Announces New Efficiency Regulations

In a move to decrease power usage and combat climate change, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm announced new efficiency regulations for dishwashers, beverage vending machines, and electric motors on Friday. This is the latest of several actions from the Biden administration to tackle the climate crisis.

Granholm stated that the restrictions would decrease expenses for American consumers due to lowered energy consumption. She added that the administration is “using all of the tools at our disposal to save Americans money while promoting innovations that will reduce carbon pollution and combat the climate crisis.”

New Dishwasher Standards to Save Households $168 Million Each Year

According to an analysis of the proposal released by Bloomberg Law, new dishwashers imported into the United States beginning in 2027 would have to consume 27% less power and use 34% less water, while more compact models would need to implement a 22% power reduction and an 11% water use reduction. Energy Department officials estimate that consumers would have to spend $15 more for a new dishwasher but would witness three times as much in energy savings over the appliance’s lifetime.

The new dishwasher standards would save households $168 million each year on utility bills, according to an estimate from the Energy Department. The regulations for electric motors, which convert electrical energy into mechanical energy in manufacturing and process equipment, will save businesses $464 million annually, while the vending machine rules will save $20 million annually.

New Emissions Rules for Natural Gas Stoves Spark Controversy

Officials provoked controversy upon introducing new emissions rules for natural gas stoves, even as increased adoption of the fuel serves as a significant driver of lower emissions in the United States. The state of New York has since approved legislation that will effectively ban the installation of gas stoves in new homes and buildings as early as 2026.

More Efficiency Standards Unveiled

The Energy Department also unveiled new efficiency standards for air conditioners and the first federal standards for portable air cleaners. Officials similarly introduced a final rule that requires single-section and multi-section mobile homes to meet new climate-dependent energy conservation measures.

The Biden administration is committed to a “whole-of-government effort” to reduce carbon emissions and has drafted several similar regulations over the past two years. These actions are preserving reliability and performance across household appliances and commercial and industrial equipment.

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