How Your Showerhead and Fridge Became Political Statements

Efficiency standards for home appliances were once a bejin negotiation equivalent – neutral, but aggressive. However, as political polarization deepens, the dishwashers, laundry, shower headlines and other household staples have begun to receive a new charge. Now the rules of success in monitoring both houses and protection of both houses and water of the Congress, and the rules of success are at risk.

This month ago, President Donald Trump, for a long time to clean the low-streamed shower headers to clean up, doubled the long-lasting complaint “Beautiful hair“He ordered the management To cancel a rule, to cancel a rule that aims to save water by limiting the flow of devices. One White House Fact Report The order promised the “left war in the water pressure” and “the great thing of America’s shower again.”

This is part of the effectiveness of the targeting movement of the growing movement – passed bills, including home Republicans last year “Refrigeration Freedom“And”Freedom in the laundry act“Neither in the Senate, the democratic leaders, now responsible for both houses of Congress, and Republicans have already passed A resolution to cancel the standard of energy efficiency For non-tank-free water heaters working with gas waiting for Trump’s signature.

Efficiency standards used in bipartisan support. However, many republican politicians see the restrictions on gas stoves, refrigerators and laundry machines and the symbols of human self-determination. The idea of ​​the signed was developed Trump disposal “To target the freedom of choosing the American people, targeting efficiency standards for households and techniques. The message sounds from the stove and water heaters that speaking of industrial groups, which are interested in the maintenance of houses.

“This is not the first time we have seen effective standards in culture.” “But President Trump has made it overdrive.”

The fuel failure of the oil crisis in 1973 has begun pushing more efficient devices for more efficient devices. Republican President Gerald Ford signed a bipartisan energy policy and protection law in 1975 and appointed places in accordance with the government’s household appliances. But State laws for more efficient devices Originally came by forcing producers Handle a patch of rules. Thus, the National Efficiency Standards for Congress Water heaters, air conditioners, dishwashersIn 1987, he was signed by the National Device Protection Law and many other household appliances, other republican president – Ronald Reagan.

Congress continued to expand these standards In 1992, 2005 and 2007 with bipartisan support. In general, the energy department already controls the standards 60 Equipment Techniques and other equipment in houses and enterprises from the toilets to commercial refrigerators.

Trump in January Energy Department was assessed The purchase of these rules together saved $ 576 per annum in the $ 576 bill of $ 576. He also cut the national energy use by 6.5 percent and water consumption, 12 percent, making climate change and the main tool to solve the drought. Voters support energy-saving policies wide 87 percent of Americans In March, the minimum efficiency of new appliances selected by consumer reports, including 82 percent of Republicans, agreeing to be required. “People do not sound for products that do not need energy and money,” Delaski said.

Despite its extensive popularity despite efficiency, there are push and public anger against effective devices related to the 1980s. Reagan actually said the National Application Law, Limited to Protection Law “Freedom of choice Accessible to consumers who will have the opportunity to buy low-valued devices, “a year that signed it. In 1996 episode SeinfeldJerry, Kramer and Newman, were fed with new low-flow shower headlines in the buildings, and they appealed to the black-market Yugoslavia from the back of a truck. Another Civil War was brewed in 2010 on energy efficient LED bulbs in 2010 The issue of individual freedom.

Ecological economist Matthew Burgess in Wyoming University, when people see their lives directly affect their lives, the rules of efficiency are likely to be a cultural flashoint, he said. “People see the flow of showerheads,” he said. “People express their stoves whether gas or electricity.” Berkeley, California, Berkeley, California, some political tensions as a result of ambitious changes In 2019, he tried to prohibit gas relations in new buildings.

“I think there is an impression on the parts of the law, but they want to say what the climate elements in the climate community and the democratic party should do in certain segments of the Democratic Party,” Burgess said.

Again, the Fossil Fuel Industry has also affected the conversation: there is a coordinated campaign To emphasize the narrative of the “choice of consumption” According to gas facilities, Emilia Piziak, an effective analyst in the center of the climate. Last year, for example, the American Gas Association was given to a The court’s short The National Biden-Era Energy Energy Office claims about stoves and water heaters, the congress “freedom of choosing the power of consumers”.

“These industrial groups and gas utilities work together,” said Piziak. “They are very effective in showing and driving this messaging house.” The “Freedom to choose” narrative was also echoed by Trump officials. One The most priorities of the Trump’s Energy SecretaryChris Wright, “It is to promote the choice of favorable and consumer options on home appliances.”

Home Application Manufacturers Association Grist’i explained that efficiency wants to change when supporting the process of standards. “The process and analysis should pay more attention to the consumer effect, especially in favor of favorable and product choice,” the union said. “Any standard developed must be a real, measurable benefit for the consumer.”

Although high efficient technique is more expensive, they can retain households Thousands of dollars in bills over a long period of time. And Delaski, the effectiveness of the efficiency also defended the other benefits of consumers. “Today’s highly efficient products, light lamps or clothing washers or clothing washes or shower headlines, but also better than the products that are replaced in many cases,” he said.

Energy policy and conservation act Prevents government efficiency standards For already built devices, Delaski said that the Trump management was worried about this way around it. “I think that all standards are the risk of underlining, worn, worn,” he said.

Recently, the Republicans targeted the rules of efficiency specified in the spot at the end of the Bunden administration. According to the congress review, Congress can review and cancel a given regulation on the last 60 legislation – a period of recent time – with a simple sound sounds. Until now, Republicans did not vote only to cancel its effectiveness standards Gas water heaters In this rule, both Trade refrigerator equipment and walking refrigerator For restaurants, grocery stores and grocery stores. The rules of efficiency passing under the Biden administration will save $ 107 in the next two decades of households each year, a Evaluate device standards from the consciousness projectand can collect $ 2 billion in business owners every year.

The recent actions of the Republicans show that things that start as a war on the “consumer choice” is a bigger attack on efficiency. “I don’t think the walk is in the cooling war war,” Delaski said. “The attempt to push to overcome these Commonsense standards is really wide, not just about shower headlines or refrigerators or dishwashers.”

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