Your Next Appliances Might Use More Energy. Could They Work Better?

A close-up of the Energy Star sticker on a white appliance.

This month, the Trump administration proposed several plans to roll back the federal government’s role in regulating and promoting the purchase of energy- and water-saving home appliances.

First, Environmental Protection Agency officials reportedly planned to shut down Energy Star, a popular certification program for high-efficiency products that save more energy and water than required by law. Then, the Energy Department announced rollbacks to water- and energy-efficiency rules for about a dozen household appliances.

The White House also issued a memo instructing the Secretary of Energy to stop enforcing water- and energy-conservation rules on showerheads, faucets, toilets, dishwashers, and washing machines. That memo further ordered the secretary to look for ways to repeal the laws that give the agency the authority to set efficiency standards in the first place.

These rollbacks will likely face legal challenges. However, if changes do go into effect, they might impact your choices the next time you’re shopping for a dishwasher, refrigerator, or other large or small appliance. We spoke to a handful of experts from different corners of the home-appliance industry to get a sense of what those changes might look like.



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