Contact: Ben Somberg, 202-658-8129, bsomberg@aceee.org
Washington, DC—A resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives today would undo technical updates to certification requirements for a range of products subject to energy efficiency standards but has no effect on the efficiency levels those products must meet. The resolution, H.J. Res. 42, would reverse a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) “certification, labeling, and enforcement” rule from October 2024.
If passed by the Senate and signed by the president, the resolution would, however, make it more difficult for DOE or other parties to identify products that do not comply with standards. Finding products for sale that are not certified to meet standards is one method to identify non-compliant products. The resolution could benefit companies—often those importing products from abroad—that cut corners, at the expense of consumers and the manufacturers that follow the law.
“Going after these obscure certification requirements doesn’t have an effect in any direction on how efficient products need to be, so this is mostly a sideshow,” said Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. “The only parties that possibly benefit from this are fly-by-night companies that undercut the market by selling illegal products that cost consumers an arm and a leg to operate.”
More information about the 2024 DOE rule at issue is available in an ASAP fact sheet.
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The Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP) advocates for appliance, equipment, and lighting standards that cut planet-warming emissions and other air pollution, save water, and reduce economic and environmental burdens for low- and moderate-income households. ASAP’s steering committee
includes representatives from environmental and efficiency nonprofits, consumer groups, the utility sector, and state government.
