The Department of Energy released finalized efficiency standards for residential refrigerators and freezers on Friday and proposed a rule that would enforce efficiency standards for commercial fans and blowers — mounting on the efforts by the Biden administration to lessen carbon emissions from appliances while promising cost reductions.
These new rules are expected to reduce carbon emissions by nearly 420 million metric tons over 30 years — the equivalent of emissions from nearly 53 million homes, according to DOE estimates. Combined, the rules are expected to provide $5 billion in savings on utility bills.
The two rules announced Friday will make a total of 30 proposed or finalized energy efficiency standards issued from the agency in 2023, as the Biden administration aims to phase out appliances that use energy at higher rates and, as a result, emit more carbon into the atmosphere.
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“Today’s announcement is a testament to the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to lowering utility costs for working families, which is helping to simultaneously strengthen energy independence and combat the climate crisis,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement. “DOE will continue to move quickly in 2024 — together with our industry partners and stakeholders — to update and strengthen outdated energy efficiency standards, which is critical to innovation, more consumer options, and healthier communities.”
The efficiency standards for kitchen appliances align with recommendations from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, Consumer Federation of America, and energy efficiency advocates, which would aim to reduce new refrigerator and freezer energy use by 10%-15%. Compliance will be required by either Jan. 31, 2029, or Jan. 31, 2030, depending on the configuration of the refrigerator or freezer. The department also estimates that the standards will provide a savings of 11%, relative to the energy use of products currently on the market.
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The new rules on commercial fans and blowers would be the first federal standard for the appliances and would follow the model established by California’s regulation on general fans. If adopted within the DOE’s proposed time frame, the new rule would come into effect by 2029 and would reduce utility costs for businesses by nearly $56 billion over 30 years. The rule would also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 318 million metric tons — an amount that’s roughly equivalent to the combined annual emissions of 40 million homes, according to the DOE.
Under the Biden administration, the Energy Department has issued stringent regulations on household appliances, proposing new standards for appliances ranging from gas stoves to ceiling fans. Republicans have fought the standards, framing them as mandates to take away consumers’ appliances.
