Trump Takes Aim at Efficiency Standards for Dishwashers and Washing Machines

You would think the administration that launched the Department of Government Efficiency (despite how ineffective it has been) would be a big fan of improved efficacy in all areas. But Donald Trump keeps trying to kill any law that sets efficiency requirements for water and energy usage. His latest effort came Friday, when he signed a presidential memorandum calling the Department of Energy to “consider using all lawful authority to rescind” or weaken water and energy standards and signed measures to end Biden-era energy efficiency regulations. Trump signed four separate measures, approved as part of the Congressional Review Act, that set regulations on gas water heaters and walk-in coolers and freezers, commercial freezers, and other consumer appliances. Per the Department of Energy, those standards reduced the energy usage of water heaters by 13% and saved consumers a cumulative $3.1 billion and saved commercial facilities $4.6 billion on utility bills from cooler and freezer usage. ... Read full article.