President Donald Trump and Republicans have repeatedly sought to roll back federal energy efficiency standards for everyday appliances, from showerheads to refrigerators, claiming these rules drive up costs rather than save consumers money.
The effort by Republicans highlights a broader partisan divide over energy efficiency standards, with Democrats and environmental groups warning that weakening the standards could increase household energy bills and slow efforts to reduce emissions. The push to roll back standards comes amid growing concerns over affordability, as electricity prices rise and energy demand continues to grow.
Still, the divide has translated into direct action by Trump to dismantle energy efficiency standards through executive action. For instance, in April, the president signed an executive order directing the Department of Energy to roll back efficiency standards that limit showerhead water flow rates, which Trump has blamed for poor water pressure.
“In my case, I would like to take a nice shower to take care of my beautiful hair,” Trump said at the time in the Oval Office. “For 15 minutes until it gets wet, drip, drip, drip. Ridiculous.”
A 1992 federal law set standards that new showerheads cannot release more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute. As new showerheads with multiple nozzles were released to the market, the Obama administration set standards limiting the collective flow from a showerhead to no more than 2.5 gallons per minute. The Trump administration, through the order, has repealed those standards.
The rollback on water standards for showerheads was one of several actions targeting federal efficiency rules across appliances.
Republicans have also pursued a legislative approach to undo standards permanently. The GOP has used the Congressional Review Act, a special legislative tool that allows lawmakers to bypass a filibuster and pass a regulation with a simple majority in both chambers. Once a CRA bill is signed into law, a federal agency can no longer propose a similar rule.
In May, Trump signed several CRAs into law, including one that repealed the DOE’s regulation that set more stringent standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers under its Energy Conservation Program, which aims to reduce energy consumption and emissions.
Trump also signed three other pieces of legislation that would undo DOE standards for gas-fired water heaters, repeal an energy conservation program run by the DOE that grants appliances a label showing consumers they are energy-efficient, and cancel standards for walk-in coolers and freezers.
Republicans have used the CRA throughout the year to undo a number of the Biden administration’s climate and energy policies that do not align with the current administration’s agenda.
In addition to repealing efficiency standards, Republicans have also targeted taxpayer-funded incentives designed to encourage energy-efficient upgrades.
The Trump-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act repealed hundreds of billions of dollars in incentives for clean energy, including for homeowners to make energy-efficient upgrades to their properties.
The sweeping tax bill terminated the Residential Clean Energy Credit, which offers homeowners who install qualifying clean energy systems on their property up to 30% of the cost. These systems include solar panels, geothermal heat pumps, battery storage technology, and more.
It also repealed the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, which offered homeowners a $3,200-per-year credit for making energy-efficient home improvements.
Efforts to repeal energy efficiency standards come at a time when affordability has become a central concern for voters, and electricity prices continue to surpass inflation rates.
According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index, electricity prices rose 6.9% for the year ending in November, faster than overall inflation, which stood at 2.7%.
Meanwhile, Republicans continue seeking to end energy-efficiency measures. Last month, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce subcommittee advanced several appliance and building reform bills out of committee.
Lawmakers advanced eight bills out of committee, including codifying Trump’s executive order on showerheads and repealing energy standards for manufactured homes. Another bill also reforms DOE’s Energy Policy Conservation Act, which sets standards for appliance efficiency, such as refrigerators and furnaces. Under the bill, DOE could only propose a new standard if it results in a significant conservation of energy, is technologically feasible, and is economically justified.
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Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) said in a statement, “Burdensome regulations have driven up costs and put home ownership out of reach for millions of Americans.”
“Today, the Subcommittee on Energy advanced legislation that will cut through the red tape and make housing more affordable. From protecting consumer choice to addressing the rising prices of critical home appliances, these bills offer common-sense solutions for working families,” his statement reads.
