Energy Secretary touts $24 billion in consumer savings through appliance regulations modification
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Chris Wright wrapped up a tour at a Rinnai America Corporation factory in Georgia, celebrating 100 days of the Trump administration and the eye-popping $24 billion in savings American consumers have pocketed from regulatory relaxations.
The Energy Department hit pause on the Obama rulebook, then Congress used the Congressional Review Act (CRA) in April to codify the changes. A good old pal of ours filled us in on the whole gig.
The Energy Department delayed the Biden-era standards for high-efficiency appliances, which were meant to kick in 2029. Meanwhile, President Trump signed the axe on water usage restrictions for shower heads in April. The Senate concurred the next day, with a 53-44 vote to axe the Biden-era energy efficiency guidelines for tankless water heaters.
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Chris Wright and old Trump, smiling like a couple of cats that got the cream (Getty).
Our insider spilled the beans about how this is just the cherry on top of a whole batch of economically savvy adjustments to showerhead, washing machine, and other appliance standards.
Rinnai America Corporation was all about the CRA legislation that flipped the script on the prior regulatory rule, the company announced on April 10.
Wright went off in his speech to the factory workers, talking about how most of Earth's population still don't enjoy hot showers. Wright's been to 55 countries, he said, and it's a damn shame that not everybody shares our precious hot shower luxury.
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The 2023 rule means water heaters have to use 13% less energy than models currently on the market. With the relaxed rule, old Trump claimed that each household would save around $112 during the heater's lifetime. The rule would have made around 40% of all tankless water heaters illegal, but the Trumpsters aren't here for that noise.
Rinnai manufactures a non-condensing tankless water heater. A DOE fact sheet says this model is less efficient than a condensing version, but it's also cheaper. The condensing water heater reuses exhaust gases to create more heat, offering up to one-third more efficiency than traditional water heaters.
The Japanese manufacturer insisted they'd have to shell out $15 million to retrofit the Georgia factory if the rules stayed in place.
[1] Energy Savings, Jobs, and Choice: Reversing Energy Efficiency Mandates for Tankless Water Heaters, Coalition for Manufacturing Growth[2] Trump Administration Rolls Back Energy Efficiency Standards for Tankless Water Heaters, Inside Climate News[3] Trump Administration's Water Heater Rule Raises Concerns about Energy Efficiency, Environmental Protection, and Consumer Safety, Union of Concerned Scientists[4] Energy Rule Rollbacks Raising Questions about the Trump Administration's Priorities, Good Jobs First[5] Senate Abandons Efforts to Roll Back Energy Efficiency Standards, US News & World Report
Enrichment Data:While Rinnai is not explicitly mentioned in available records, the rollback benefited natural gas appliance manufacturers by easing compliance costs and maintaining existing production lines. The move risks prolonging reliance on less-efficient technology, potentially increasing consumer energy costs and delaying industry alignment with climate goals. The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), which lobbied heavily for the repeal through Sen. Ted Cruz’s office, argued that Biden-era standards threatened industry competitiveness. For the wider sector, the repeal avoided potential retooling expenses and preserved natural gas-dependent business models. However, the move risks prolonging reliance on less-efficient technology, potentially increasing consumer energy costs and delaying industry alignment with climate goals. The repeated reversals create market uncertainty, complicating long-term industry planning.
- The Energy Department's delay of Biden-era standards for high-efficiency appliances, such as water heaters, resulted in a savings of around $112 for each household, according to President Trump.
- Chris Wright, Energy Boss, spoke about the 100 days of the Trump administration and the $24 billion in savings American consumers have achieved due to regulatory relaxations.
- Rinnai America Corporation, a manufacturer of non-condensing tankless water heaters, announced on April 10 that they benefited from the Congressional Review Act (CRA) legislation that reversed prior energy efficiency regulations.
- The delayed Biden-era energy efficiency guidelines for tankless water heaters were axed by the Senate with a 53-44 vote in April, following Trump's signing of the changes in the same month.
