As President Joe Biden’s administration looks to further reduce carbon emissions and cut energy use, some republicans from the U.S. House of Representatives are pushing back on those attempts to regulate consumer appliances, including room air conditioners and refrigerators. Recently, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce passed five proposals, including the Refrigerator Freedom Act and the Affordable Air Conditioning Act. The proposals would collectively prevent the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) secretary from “prescribing or enforcing energy conservation standards” for those appliances that are not “cost-effective or technologically feasible” including dishwashers, refrigerators, clothes washers and dryers, and room a/c units. There was also a sixth measure approved that would prevent the energy secretary “from prescribing any new or amended energy conservation standard for a product that is not technologically feasible or economically justified.” The bills were in response to steps the DOE has taken during Biden’s presidency to further regulate the energy use of home appliances.
U.S. House of Representatives Push Back on Further Regulation Attempts
An HVAC Minute Video Update: April 23, 2024
