The Biden administration has recently implemented a new regulation targeting pool pump motors with lower energy efficiency levels, but will this crackdown burden consumers with high costs?
Higher Energy Conservation and Efficiency Standards for Pool Pump Motors
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Published in the Federal Register on September 28, the Department of Energy (DOE) has officially issued the rule, setting forth enhanced energy conservation and efficiency standards for pool pump motors, which manufacturers must adhere to starting in September 2025.
Changes Could Cost Consumers at Least $2.6 Billion
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Estimates indicate that this rule concerning pool pump motors may incur costs exceeding $2.6 billion for consumers over its lifetime in terms of equipment expenses.
DOE Estimates $8 Billion Savings in Operating Costs
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However, according to the Federal Register entry, the DOE projects that this regulation will ultimately lead to savings of nearly $8 billion in operational costs, along with generating $2 billion in climate benefits and a further $2 billion in health benefits.
The Cost of Pool Pumps Will Double to Comply With Rule
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Biden’s new regulation will require consumers to purchase pump models costing around $1,000, as opposed to the average price of $499 for less efficient models that do not comply with the rule.
DOE’s Economic Analysis Is “Unviable and Will Hurt the American Consumer.”
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Flurida, a prominent pool company, expressed concerns that the DOE’s economic analysis is “unviable and will hurt the American consumer.”
The Rule Would Result in a Significant Conservation of Energy
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The DOE argued “that the standards adopted in this final rule represent the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in the significant conservation of energy.”
The Benefits of the Standards Exceed the Burdens of the Standards
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“Specifically, equipment is able to achieve these standard levels using technology options currently available… as for economic justification, DOE’s analysis shows that the benefits of the standards exceed the burdens of the standards,” the agency added.
Motors Ranging From 0.5 Total Horsepower to 5 Total Horsepower Fall Under the Rules
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This regulation establishes energy conservation and efficiency standards for pool pump motors categorized as extra-small, small, and standard-sized, based on their power rather than their physical size. The rule encompasses pool pump motors with a power range from 0.5 total horsepower to 5 total horsepower.
DOE Has Already Pursued Energy-Efficient Water Heaters and Portable Gas Generators
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Pool pump motors are the latest appliances to come under the administration’s regulatory focus, following the DOE’s prior efforts to enhance energy efficiency standards for products such as water heaters and portable gas generators.
Biden Administration Has Taken Numerous Steps to Raise Energy Efficiency Standards
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The Biden administration has been actively working to increase the energy efficiency standards of household appliances.
Energy Efficiency of Room Air Conditioning Units and Portable Air Cleaners Raised
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On March 23, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) finalized a rule concerning the energy efficiency of room air conditioning units and portable air cleaners. These standards were established following a consensus reached among DoE, manufacturers, utility companies, advocates for efficiency, and state governments.
Effective in 2026, this rule raises the energy efficiency standards for room air conditioning units. Additionally, it introduces new energy efficiency standards for portable air cleaners, which will be effective in 2024.
New Standards Estimated to Save Americans $1.3 Billion a Year
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While the specific details of these standards may vary by model, the DOE anticipates that these updated standards will result in annual savings of $1.3 billion for Americans on their electricity bills. Furthermore, these standards are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by a total of 106 million tons over the next three decades.
Environmental Groups Pressure Biden to Crack Down on Car and Truck Emissions
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Environmental organizations are exerting pressure on the Biden administration to take stringent measures against car and truck emissions as they prepare to address fuel economy standards.
Groups Call On EPA to Reduce Pollution by 75 Percent From Cars, SUVs, and Light Trucks by 2030
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Both the Center for Biological Diversity and GreenLatinos are urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to achieve a 75 percent reduction in pollution from cars, SUVs, and light trucks by 2030 in the upcoming round of standards.
Fifty Percent of Vehicles Sold to Be Emissions-Free by 2030
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This goal is more ambitious than the target set by President Joe Biden in his 2021 executive order on clean vehicles, which aimed for 50 percent of vehicles sold to be emission-free by 2030.
Is the President’s Vision of “Bidenomics” Working?
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“Bidenomics” is the President’s vision for fostering economic growth from the middle and the bottom up, achieved through investments in America, creating well-paying union jobs, and reducing costs for American families.
The Most Substantial Commitment to Clean Energy and Climate Action
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More than a year ago, President Biden enacted the Inflation Reduction Act into law, representing the most substantial commitment to clean energy and climate action to date.
Delivering a Significant Impact on American Workers and Families
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The Biden administration and its supporters say it has already had a notable impact on American workers, families, and particularly on underserved communities that have often been overlooked.
Clean Energy and Climate Provisions Have Created an Estimated 170,000 Jobs
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External organizations estimate that the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy and climate provisions have already generated more than 170,000 clean energy jobs. Companies have announced investments exceeding $110 billion in clean energy manufacturing within the past year alone.
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