Efficiency standards for home appliances once used to be a dialogue that is equivalent to the beige – neutral but is not serious. But when the political polarization has deeper, the washing machine, washing machine, shower head and other household paper, began to charge a new cost. With Republicans at the moment, it is in the control of the White House and both of the Congress, the rules that keep American money in the utility bill, while energy and water conservation is immediately at risk.
At the beginning of last month, President Donald Trump doubled in his long complaint about the low -flowing shower head that took him to clean for too long. “Beautiful hair– ” have Order his management To cancel the rehabilitation rules by managing BIDEN, which aims to save water by limiting the flow of installation. Real sheet of the White House Promise that the order will cancel the “left war with water pressure” and “to shower in America again.”
It is part of the movement that increases the target of efficiency – last year. House Republicans via bills, including “Freedom Act in the refrigerator“and”Liberty in Laundry Act“Although not successful in the Senate led by democracy But now responsible for both councils But the Republican party has passed The resolution of the latest energy efficiency standards For water heater that uses gas driven by Trump's signing
The efficiency standards used to support the two parties But today, many Republican politicians have seen limitations about gas stoves, refrigerators and washing machines as a symbol of democratic interventions and self -decisions. That is the idea that Trump progressed when he signed the contract. Executive order Setting targets for efficiency standards for home products and appliances “To protect the freedom of American people in choosing” The message reflects the discussion from the industry that is interested in maintaining the house next to natural gas for stoves and water heater.
“This is not the first time that we have been blessed with the performance that was pushed into the Cultural War,” Andrew Delaski, the manager of the project, recognition standard, which supports more strict energy legislation. “But President Trump has used that in the coordinates.”
The push for more efficient electrical appliances to start to respond to fuel shortages arising from the fuel crisis in 1973, the President of the Republican Party, Metraraldford signed the two -sided energy policy and conservation policy in 1975, with the foundation for the government to set standards for household appliances, but State law for more efficient appliances Before, forcing the manufacturer to Navigation of patching or rules– Therefore, Congress sets the nationwide performance standards for Water heater, air conditioning, dishwasherAnd many other household appliances that have the National Energy Conservation Act in 1987 signed by President of the Republican Party – Ronald Reagan.
parliament Continuously expanding those standards With the support of the two parties in 1992, 2005 and 2007. Overall, the Ministry of Energy is now standard at this time. 60 categories or electrical appliances And other homes in the house and business tensions from the bathroom to commercial refrigerators
In January before Trump The Department of Energy is approximately These rules are combined to help the US family on average $ 576 per year for their expenses. They also reduce the use of national energy at 6.5 percent and the use of water at 12 percent makes them an important tool for dealing with climate change and drought. Election rights supports extensive energy saving policies as well. 87 percent of Amicans Explore by reporting consumers in March acknowledges that the new home appliances should be used to measure the lowest level – including 82 percent of the Republican Party, “People do not affect products that have to pay energy and money,” Delaski said.
Despite the wide popularity But there is a spread or pushing and rape to the public to effective appliances backwards to 1980. In fact, the National Energy Conservation Act said that it was limited. “Freedom of choosing Available for consumers who will be rejecting the opportunity to buy cheap appliances. “The previous year he signed In 1996 or signalJerry, Kramer and Newman are bored with the new low-flowing shower heads in their buildings. They turn to buy the Black-Market Yugoslavian model from the back of the truck. Another cultural war produced through the energy -saving LED in 2010 when the older model and filling About personal freedom–
Matthew Burgess, the environmental economist at the University of Vioaming, said that the efficiency rules tend to become the most cultural flash point when people see them directly affect their lives. “People noticed the flow of their shower heads,” they said that their stoves are gas or electricity “. Some political tensions about the utensils caused by ambitious changes. Trying to prohibit the connection of gas in the new building in the year 2019.–
“I think it is impressive in the correct part, not all wrong. The composition in the community, climate and left, and in some parts of the Democrat Party, want to tell them what to do and should not do anything in their home.
But the fossil fuel industry also has an influence on conversations. To emphasize the story of “Consumer Options” In particular, the gas appliances as Emilia Piziak, the senior analyst of Influencemap, which is a tank of climate. For example, last year, the American Gas Association submitted a file. Court letter The challenge of the Ministry of Energy in the BIDEN era in the BIDEN era about the furnace and water heater, claiming that Congress “Want consumers to be free to choose the type of energy they want.”
“These industrial groups and gas utilities are working together,” said Piziak. “They are very effective in appearing and driving home”. The story “Freedom in choosing” is reflected by Trump staff or The highest priority of Trump's energy secretaryChris Wright is “promoting the ability to pay and the choice of consumers in home appliances.”
The home appliance manufacturer association told Grist that while supporting efficiency standards But need changes. “The proceedings of the trial and analysis should focus on the effects of consumers, especially regarding payment and product selection,” the association in any statement “that has been developed should be really useful and can be measured for consumers.”
Although electrical appliances that are highly effective are usually more expensive. But they can save households Several thousand dollars Long -term costs and Dellaski argue that the efficiency standards also provide other benefits to consumers. “Today's highly effective products, whether we talk about lamps or washing machines or pods, or in many cases, and in many cases, it is better than the products that are not effective they can replace,” he said.
While the Energy and Conservation Policy Act Prevent the government from using efficiency standards As for the appliances that have been set up, Delaski said that he was worried that Trump's management was looking for a way around. “I think all the standards are at risk of being inevitable,” he said.
Recently, the Republican Party has set a target of efficiency rules set at the end of biade management. Since the Congress Congress Review Act can review and cancel the rules issued in the last 60 days – the time that has been extended to the final summary – with a very easy vote. Until now, the Republican party is not only But voted to cancel the performance standards for water heater Under this rule but still Commercial cooling equipment and Walkin cooling machine For restaurants, convenience stores and grocery stores The performance rules under the management of BIDEN only will help the household $ 107 each year in the next two decades in the future according to the information. Assessed by the Awareness Appliance Standards ProjectAnd help the business owners of 2 billion US dollars each year
The movement recently, with Republicans shows that it begins to fight “Consumer Options” has expanded to a larger attack on the efficiency as the objective. “I don't think the walin is in a cultural war,” Delaski said.
This article originally appeared in Stone at https://grist.org/politics/nergy-efficient-apliances-trump-culture-wars/– Grist is an independent media organization that is dedicated to the score of a fairly solving climate and future. Learn more at Grist.org–