The Trump administration has announced a major revision of federal appliance efficiency regulations, aiming to overturn previous mandates and restore consumer choice. The proposed changes seek to eliminate “Green New Scam” standards that restricted options for household appliances including heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and gas stoves.
Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized the shift in language, stating: “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 rule rewrite targets how energy-efficiency standards are determined, countering interpretations under previous presidential administrations that led to stricter and often costly requirements. The proposal is open for public comment for 30 days before finalization, with the potential to prevent future federal restrictions on appliance functionality and affordability.
Critics of prior policies note that Obama-era and Biden-era mandates limited consumer options while increasing costs. The administration’s move comes amid ongoing debates about energy use patterns, including recent European heatwaves where officials have cited American air conditioning practices as contributing to local climate challenges.
