On Wednesday, April 10th, in the wake of a watered-down version of a rule to improve the energy efficiency of utility transformers, staff from Environment America Research & Policy Center led a rally of climate, consumer and health advocates to urge the Biden administration to finalize strong appliance efficiency standards this term.

The Department of Energy has repeatedly stressed its commitment to issue standards that would save consumers nearly $1 trillion and avert 2.5 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve those ambitious-yet-reachable targets, the department needs to finalize more than a dozen pending product standards. 

“For the sake of our health and our planet, and to hit the pollution reduction goals set by the administration, the government needs to deliver,” Frank said.

Members of Congress, including Senator Peter Welch from Vermont and U.S. Representative Kathy Castor joined advocates in urging the Department of Energy to finish the job on appliance efficiency standards and finish it strong.

Efficient appliances protect public health

More efficient appliances require less energy, which can lead to less air pollution and improvements in public health.

Fine particulate matter is a dangerous form of air pollution that, when inhaled, can embed deep within the lungs or enter the bloodstream—causing a variety of negative respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological health impacts. A recent report from CLASP illustrated how the reduced energy demand derived from appliance standards has already reduced fine particulate matter in the U.S., leading to a decline in related mortality. The study found that by reducing air pollution, efficiency standards are already averting 1,900 to 4,400 deaths in the United States every year. This means thousands of people not dying prematurely and having more time with friends and loved ones.

Consumers benefit from efficiency standards

On top of their environmental and health benefits, appliance efficiency standards also offer a critical way to help consumers with utility bills. Berneta Hayes, Senior Attorney with the National Consumer Law Center said that the typical U.S. household spends about $500 less each year on utility bills because of existing efficiency standards for a range of products. 

She added that standards matter because many homeowners lack the time or information needed to choose to upgrade to more efficient appliances, especially if they are doing an emergency replacement. Many others are renters –often disproportionately low-income. Without strong, economically justified appliance standards, their landlord will install less expensive and less efficient equipment, burdening tenants with higher energy bills for decades to come. 

What’s next on energy efficiency?

Finalizing strong energy efficiency standards, alongside solutions for pollution across other agencies, will help the Biden administration meet its goal of cutting climate pollution in half by the end of the decade. 

Energy efficiency standards for more than a dozen appliances are still pending at the Department of Energy, including those for residential water heaters and commercial and industrial fans and blowers. The Department of Energy’s proposal on home water heaters would deliver the largest energy-saving impact of any standard developed during this administration. 

You can show your support of more efficient water heaters by signing this petition to the Department of Energy.