The Trump administration has begun the process of repealing decades of regulations that improved the energy efficiency of American appliances. In a statement, the US Department of Energy affirmed that these regulations are “increasing costs and reducing the quality of life of Americans.”
However, the legality of this effort is problematic, since the Federal Law prohibits the Energy Department from reverse the efficiency standards of approved appliances.
These regulations were created to save energy and reduce consumer public services invoices. Many companies and consumers have supported federal regulation to strengthen energy efficiency standards and, in general, have opposed to weaken them.
The first governmental energy efficiency standards for appliances were issued by California in 1974. Initially, they were applied to refrigerators, the appliance that consumed more energy. Subsequently, several other appliances were added.
During the following decade, more states issued norms, since energy savings would help avoid the construction costs of new power plants.
The proliferation of state norms led the federal government to prohibit states from issuing efficiency standards for appliances, once the federal government had already done so. The first federal norms, in 1987, were applied to 13 domestic products, including refrigerators.
Since then, the Federal Government has created standards for additional products and has hardened existing ones. These changes have progressively increased the efficiency of appliances and commercial and industrial equipment, saving billions of dollars to consumers.
Decreasing atmospheric pollution of electric plants and reducing carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change.
Wide application
Federal data indicates that 40% of the total energy consumption of the United States – and 28% of its carbon dioxide emissions – are attributable to appliances and industrialists, such as heating and cooling systems, refrigerators, lighting and various types of equipment, such as computers, printers and electric motors.
Currently, the Program for Standards of Appliances and Equipment of the US Department of Energy, covers more than 70 products that, according to government estimates, consume approximately 90 % of the energy used in homes, 70 % in commercial buildings and 30 % in the industry.
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The Government estimates that the norms saved US consumers 105 billion dollars only in 2024; A typical home would save about $ 576 in expenses if there are no efficiency standards.
The Energy Department provides that current energy efficiency standards in force reduce, together, greenhouse gas emissions in the United States in approximately 2 billion metric tons in 30 years. This is equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide that would emit 15 million gasoline cars in that same period.
Many federal norms, including those related to bulbs, electric motors and commercial heating and cooling equipment, have been based on those previously adopted by one or more states. The Federal Law allows states to issue norms for products that the federal government has not yet regulated.
In 2024, 18 states had established energy efficiency standards for a total of 22 types of appliances, including computers and televisions.
Additional benefits
These standards for appliances have reduced energy consumption in the United States, including electricity. It is projected that current national standards reduce total national energy consumption by 10 % between 2025 and 2035.
These standards also improve public health, since the need to build new power plants of fossil fuels or operating existing ones is reduced. As a result, energy generators have been able to reduce their emissions of hazardous pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and mercury.
A popular policy
Increasing the energy efficiency of appliances has become popular. A national survey published by the United States Federation of Consumers in 2018 revealed that 71 % of Americans support the idea that the government establishes and updates energy efficiency standards for appliances.
It should be noted that 72% of respondents mentioned the reduction of electricity invoices, and 57% said that avoiding the construction of new power plants to avoid the increase in electrical rates are important reasons to increase the efficiency of appliances.
The support remains strong: a Yougov survey, June 2024, found that 60% of Americans support stricter appliance efficiency standards.
Between 1987 and 2007, more than three quarters of the National Energy Efficiency Standards for appliances were approved by Congress, and the rest was created through administrative processes in accordance with current laws.
These legal norms had bipartisan support and were promulgated by Republican presidents Ronald Reagan, George Hw Bush and George W. Bush.
But more recently, partisanship has affected the establishment of standards. Since 2008, that the standards improve or remain unchanged has depended on whether Democrats or Republicans occupied the White House.
Political fun
Obama administration promulgated one of the most ambitious energy efficiency standards to date for appliances and equipment. The new standards for air conditioners and commercial ovens affected the heating and cooling equipment that occupy half of the area occupied by the companies of the country.
It was projected that the standards would reduce the energy costs of companies by 167 billion dollars during the useful life of regulated products.
But during Trump’s first administration, improvements in existing standards stopped.
When Joe Biden assumed the presidency, his administration resumed the issuance of new standards, in particular the gradual elimination of incandescent bulbs. The Biden administration also issued new standards for ovens, residential water heaters, stoves, washing machines and refrigerators.
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The controversy continues
A new Biden standard for electric motors, widely used in manufacturing and processing equipment, incorporated recommendations from companies and defense organizations. The rule was scheduled to enter into force in 2028 and it was expected to save companies and consumers up to 8,800 million dollars in a period of 30 years.
However, the Trump administration has withdrawn this standard, together with others issued by the Biden administration, including those related to ceiling fans, dehumidifiers and external power supplies.
The administration has postponed the entry into force of other norms that had been completed before Trump assumed the position and said that these revocations “would drastically reduce bureaucracy and unnecessary regulations that increase prices, reduce consumer options and frustrate the US people.”
Another set of norms, politically controversial, which Biden introduced sought to encourage consumers to change their stoves, ovens and heater of natural or propane gas by electrical appliances.
The electrical versions of these appliances are more energy efficient, while cooking to gas emits toxic chemicals at home. The change can be expensive, and many consumers prefer gas appliances, as, of course, the natural gas industry, which has opposed these federal measures.
And at the beginning of April 2025, the Republicans of Congress used their legislative authority to revoke regulations for natural gas water heater. However, most federal norms, and all state, remain in force, at least for now.
*David J. Vogel is Professor Ethics of Business Ethics and Political Science at Berkeley University
This article was originally published in The Conversation
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