The Biden administration has finalized climate regulations that would ban most natural gas-powered tankless water heaters, a move that critics say will increase costs for consumers. [emphasis, links added]
The Department of Energy officially released the rules the day after Christmas but did not issue a press release announcing the action, unlike past appliance regulations.
Published regulations say they are expected to help improve the climate by curbing carbon dioxide emissions.
Overall, according to regulations, about 40% of existing new tankless water heaters in the United States will be withdrawn from the market by 2029.
Experts and industry officials say this will force consumers to buy more expensive or less efficient water heater models.
An industry analysis estimates Because of these regulations, consumers are paying an average of $450 more when buying a new water heater. This will affect low-income and older households, who most rely on the models targeted by the Department of Energy.
The move is the latest climate-related action taken by the Biden administration in the weeks following President-elect Donald Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump has vowed to roll back a raft of climate regulations enacted by President Joe Biden to boost energy production and boost economic growth.
The new rules highlight how the current government Target home appliances, reduce carbon emissions, and promote the green transformation of electric products.
In early 2023, the Energy Department launched a broad counterattack against popular gas stoves and continues to face criticism for its rules restricting refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers and washing machines.
When you see bad regulation from the Biden administration, it's usually related to climate change.
“This is another example of appliance regulations increasing costs and reducing choice,” Ben Lieberman, senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute washington free beacon.
“It bans an entire class of tankless water heaters as well as the most affordable water heaters.”
“This is all part of the climate change agenda,” Lieberman continued. “One of the things we saw is Averse to natural gas versions of appliances because natural gas is a fossil fuel and they want everything to be electrified. When you see bad regulations from the Biden administration, it's usually related to climate change.
This rule applies to tankless water heaters, of which there are two types: non-condensing and condensing.
However, these rules raise efficiency requirements to a threshold that only condensing models can meet, effectively banning cheaper but less efficient non-condensing models.
Therefore, after the rules are fully implemented by the end of 2029, Consumers will be forced to purchase higher-priced models or cheaper non-tankless tank water heaters.
Tank water heaters are less efficient than models banned by the Department of Energy.
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