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Donald Trump has consistently expressed his disdain for regulations on water and energy use in household appliances. At campaign rallies, he often shares embellished anecdotes about these regulations. His dedication to this issue is such that, even amid global stock market turbulence caused by his tariff plans, he issued an executive order titled “Maintaining Acceptable Water Pressure in Showerheads.”
Modern shower fixtures are among the devices that irritate Trump, who complains about their ineffectiveness, saying they force him to spend extended periods under them, which affects his “perfect” hairstyle. He has also criticized the inefficiencies of dishwashers, toilets, and LED lightbulbs.
During his first term, Trump attempted various tactics to weaken these regulations, facing opposition from both industry and environmental groups. These regulations have reportedly reduced American water and energy consumption, cut global emissions, and saved consumers money. Most of Trump’s actions were legally obstructed, and subsequent Biden administration policies reversed his initiatives.
Although Trump’s executive order regarding showerheads drew media attention, its impact was expected to be minimal. Conversely, significant actions have been reportedly taken outside the Oval Office.
It appears Trump, potentially with assistance from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency team, is attempting to circumvent previous failures by terminating the consulting contract between the Department of Energy and Guidehouse LLP. This contract is crucial for developing and enforcing appliance standards. Without it, experts believe the government’s efficiency standards program would be severely disadvantaged.
According to Emily Hammond, a law professor with experience in the DOE, removing this contract undermines the DOE’s ability to maintain its regulatory program.
Appliance manufacturers express similar concerns. A.O. Smith’s Vice President, Josh Greene, warns that canceling the Guidehouse contract could lead to unchecked imports of substandard products, harming American manufacturing and consumer interests.
The Department of Energy has not clarified the situation publicly as of yet, and its spokespersons have not responded to inquiries. Guidehouse officials have reportedly declined to comment.
Energy efficiency regulations were established under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975. Today, the DOE is mandated to set rules for the energy and water usage of over 70 products, considering stricter standards every eight years. The process typically involves extensive study and negotiation with various stakeholders.
Republican voices and right-wing media have criticized these rules as limiting freedom and choice. Early versions of some water-conserving products were famously lampooned, but current standards are praised for reducing resource consumption and environmental harm while providing viable consumer options.
By 2023, efficiency standards saved average American households about $576 per year, cutting national energy by 6.5% and water by 12%. However, Trump has persistently attacked these standards. During his administration, various deadlines for product standards were ignored, and attempts were made to undermine existing regulations through legal complexities.
Some of Trump’s changes, such as creating “short-cycle” appliance product classes, did not lead to market changes, and were subsequently reversed by Biden’s administration. Nevertheless, Trump continued to campaign on modifying these regulations and issued executive orders upon returning to office, seeking to revive and revise rules.
Many of Trump’s targets, however, cannot be changed without adhering to specific legal procedures. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has taken action in this regard, announcing the postponement of some appliance mandates.
Finally, the rules applicable to tankless gas-fueled hot water heaters, vulnerable due to their late enactment during Biden’s term, have been challenged through legislative measures favoring Rinnai, a major player in this market.
The Trump administration has pursued a broad effort to revise energy standards, from reviewing DOE procedures to issuing executive orders on appliance specifications. Yet, according to critics like Andrew deLaski, overriding the Guidehouse contract could have the most significant impact, potentially crippling the government’s ability to enforce critical efficiency standards.
