The Biden administration is proposing a new rule that would crack down on water heaters, in the latest effort by the White House to reduce carbon emissions.
The new proposed rule would tighten requirements for water heaters, dictating that “most common-sized electric water heaters to achieve efficiency gains with heat pump technology and gas-fired instantaneous water heaters to achieve efficiency gains through condensing technology,” according to a press release from the agency.
The DOE estimates that the new rule would save consumers $11.4 billion on their energy bills over the next 30 years. It would also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 501 million metric tons.
“Today’s actions — together with our industry partners and stakeholders — improve outdated efficiency standards for common household appliances, which is essential to slashing utility bills for American families and cutting harmful carbon emissions,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement.
“This proposal reinforces the trajectory of consumer savings that forms the key pillar of Bidenomics and builds on the unprecedented actions already taken by this Administration to lower energy costs for working families across the nation,” she added.
However, critics of the rule say that it would be too expensive for consumers and would lead to higher energy bills. They also argue that the rule would stifle innovation in the water heater market.
“This rule is just another example of the Biden administration’s war on affordable energy,” said Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leader in the House of Representatives. “It will drive up costs for consumers and make it harder for families to make ends meet.”
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said the Biden administration should “Leave us alone,” arguing that the proposed rule is unlikely to actually benefit many Americans financially because of the cost of equipment.
“These products already exist in the free market,” the congressman said. “Consumers should decide whether the upfront cost of a heat-pump water heater is worth the possible long term savings. In many cases, the monthly savings never make up for the upfront cost of the equipment.”
