December 2020

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a final rule today that will allow certain clothes washers and dryers to use unlimited amounts of energy and water. Opposed by manufacturers, consumer groups, and efficiency advocates, the new rule will increase utility bills and carbon emissions while undercutting manufacturers’ investments in efficient products.

Washington, DC is set to become the eighth U.S. jurisdiction to adopt energy-saving standards for common household and commercial products since the start of the Trump administration. On Tuesday afternoon, the DC Council voted unanimously in support of the measure, which will cut utility bills for consumer and businesses and help meet the district’s target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2032.