EPA ending EnergyStar program
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Not quite sure what to think about this. Is it redundant? Have you bought an appliance in the last 20 years that didn't have this sticker? I question its relevance. Sadly the article contains not info on how much the program costs.
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Where I come down on this is while getting the sticker is voluntary, aren't there regulations that govern energy usage? Would any consumer (who looks) buy an energy hog? I suppose it had a purpose at the time but that may be obsolete today. I'd need to know more to really call it.
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I’m not entirely sure that it’s even necessary when considering Canada, the EU, et al have their own energy saving regulations that match up, Whirlpool is not going to suddenly start building with entirely different components that are more of energy hogs just for the US…
Another argument that could be made is that it might allow a little grace to for a new manufacturer in the US to start building with less regulations. It would also allow them to build a “less smart” appliance with fewer chips and such…
It effectively removes the energy star tax credit, though.
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I agree they won’t make wholesale changes in their line, especially because they probably put good odds on the program being restored in 4 years. But It actually wouldn’t surprise me if they started selling a few stripped down models for cheap that don’t conform aimed at dollar general type shoppers that would see the price tag and not necessarily think too much about energy costs.
