Biden Is After Another Crucial Home Appliance

The Department of Energy (DOE) finalized regulations Tuesday in regards to adopting new heat pump technology.

“It’s great”, they say!

“It’s green”, they say!

Hmm, well then that makes me suspect it’s probably really terrible.

They don’t mind invaders flowing in and killing us.

But by God, they’re going to ensure that we keep our water and heating bill low!

Yeah, that makes sense.

So what’s the catch?

Well, the obvious catch is that these new models they’re pushing often come with a higher upfront cost of around $3,000 and may not perform as well in chilly climates, as noted by Forbes (see below).

Now that’s a steep increase from $500-1000.

And what else did they say?

They said that these water heater pumps “may” not perform as well in colder climates?

Read that as WON’T work.

Why am I not surprised?

Did this administration strike a deal with those that manufacture these pumps?

REPORTER:

"We've seen them go after gas stoves…how many more home appliances will Americans eventually have to replace?" pic.twitter.com/JgjQyiPGK0

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 24, 2023

Government Energy website reports:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today finalized Congressionally-mandated energy-efficiency standards for a range of residential water heaters to save American households approximately $7.6 billion per year on their energy and water bills, while significantly cutting energy waste and harmful carbon pollution. The final standards for residential water heaters align with recommendations from various stakeholders, including efficiency and environmental advocates, the Consumer Federation of America, and a leading U.S. water heater manufacturer. The standards would require the most common-sized electric water heaters to achieve efficiency gains with heat pump technology, helping to accelerate the deployment of this cost-effective, clean energy technology while also reducing strain on the electric grid. Over 30 years of shipments, these updated standards are expected to save Americans $124 billion on their energy bills and reduce 332 million metric tons of dangerous carbon dioxide emissions—equivalent to the combined annual emissions of nearly 43 million homes.

“Almost every U.S. household has a water heater, and for too long outdated energy efficiency standards have led to higher utility bills for families,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “The Biden-Harris Administration is continuing to put American consumers first with new, effective rules—supported by industry—that save both energy and money.”

DOE last updated residential water heater efficiency standards, which are required by Congress, in 2010. Compliance will be required starting in 2029 for the new standards adopted today, which would result in over 50% of the newly manufactured electric storage water heaters to utilize heat pump technology, compared to 3% today. Replacing common-sized traditional electric resistance storage water heaters with electric heat pump water heaters meeting the new standards would save consumers approximately $1,800 on their utility bills, on average, over the life of the appliance, with total savings helping low-income households, who spend a higher percentage of their income on utility bills in particular.

Water heating is responsible for roughly 13% of both annual residential energy use and consumer utility costs, and these new standards will provide a savings of 10% of this usage relative to products currently on the market. The energy savings from this final rule over 30 years of shipments is 17.6 quadrillion British thermal units—the largest savings ever from a single DOE efficiency standard, representing more than the energy use of the entire U.S. residential building sector in a single year.

The amended standards for electric storage water heaters in the most common sizes reflect the efficiency level of an entry-level heat pump storage water heater. These standards will more than double the efficiency of electric storage water heaters relative to today, while allowing for new product innovation in the heat pump water heating market such as the recently introduced 120-V heat pump water heater. DOE is confident in the industry’s ability to ramp up capacity to produce the volumes necessary to support the heat pump water heating market that will be required by the amended standards, as demonstrated by a major manufacturer signing on to the joint stakeholder recommendation.

The amended standards represent a moderate increase in efficiency for gas-fired, oil-fired and larger electric storage water heaters. DOE is still considering amended standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters, which are not addressed by today’s final rule.

Strengthening Congressionally-Mandated Energy Efficiency Standards for Appliances  
DOE continues to carry out Congressional mandates for energy savings that maintain reliability and performance across household appliances and commercial and industrial equipment. Today’s actions are part of a suite of energy efficiency standards advanced by the Biden-Harris Administration this term that DOE projects will together provide nearly $1 trillion in consumer savings over 30 years and save the average family at least $100 a year through lower utility bills. DOE also estimates that these standards, once finalized, will cumulatively reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2.5 billion metric tons or more—an amount roughly equivalent to the emissions of 18 million gas-powered cars, 22 coal-fired power plants, or 10.5 million homes over 30 years.

These actions reinforce the trajectory of consumer savings that form a key pillar of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda

and while lowering costs for American families and businesses.

Here’s Forbes report on the heaters:

Cons of Heat Pump Water Heaters

Does Not Work in Cold Climates

Because heat pump water heaters draw ambient warmth from the air, they do not work well, or sometimes at all, in colder temperatures. For this reason, it may be difficult to utilize a heat pump water heater in certain regions. Some heat pump water heaters use a hybrid system that can turn on traditional electric water heating if it gets too cold to run the heat pump.

Higher Upfront Cost

The biggest issue with heat pump water heaters is the greater upfront purchase cost. These hot water heaters can range in price from $1,500 to $3,000—a significant increase from the $500 to $1,000 for a conventional hot water heater. Even though savings over time may be much greater with a heat pump water heater, the initial price may drive this appliance out of budget for some homeowners.

I tend to live by a certain motto when it comes to the latest tech. If it’s new, it’s crap-a-roo.

For some reason, so much of what comes out is just terrible, with corners cut during production and cheaper material used, and laced with chemicals (in regards to food).

Looks like this water heater that Biden wants us to have falls under that motto.

Luckily they’re waiting until 2029, so Trump will chuck this long before then.

Just keep an eye out for anything this administration does. Because just because they say 2029, doesn’t mean they don’t have other plans. I don’t trust them at all.

I know you don’t either.