The US Energy Department has announced a rollback of longstanding energy and water efficiency standards for appliances, calling it the largest deregulatory effort in history. The department aims to eliminate 47 regulations deemed burdensome, including efficiency standards for appliances like commercial clothes washers, microwave ovens, dishwashers, and faucets. This move targets the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), which includes an anti-backsliding provision meant to prevent weakening of efficiency standards. The proposed rollback could reverse decades of progress, raising costs for consumers and increasing energy and water waste. Advocates argue the rollback is illegal and likely to face legal challenges, as past court decisions have upheld the anti-backsliding provision. Critics warn this would undermine energy efficiency achievements, increasing utility bills and limiting access to more efficient technologies for all consumers.
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