Politics

Biden admin’s war on household appliances will cause higher prices, dirtier clothes and dishes, experts warn

For American households, the Biden administration's war on household appliances could come at a hefty price.

Experts are warning that the White House's push for more efficient washing machines, dishwashers and other appliances will result in higher prices for consumers, as well as dirtier clothes and dishes.

The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that it was proposing a new energy efficiency rule for certain appliances, including washers, dryers and dishwashers. The rule would make it mandatory for appliance manufacturers to use the most efficient motors and other components in their products.

While the DOE claims that this measure will save consumers money in the long run, industry experts argue that the new regulations will actually make appliances more expensive.

“This is a very costly rule. It's going to add huge costs to manufacturers, and in turn, consumers are going to have to pay more,” said Paul Cicio, president of the Industrial Energy Consumers of America (IECA). “The DOE is essentially mandating more expensive technology, and it's going to drive up the price of the product.”

At the same time, experts argue that the more efficient motors and components will not necessarily result in cleaner clothes and dishes. In fact, according to some experts, the new technology could actually cause dirtier results.

“The DOE is assuming that the more efficient motors and components will result in better cleaning, but that's not necessarily the case,” said Cicio. “In some cases, the more efficient technology can actually result in dirtier clothes and dishes. It's a trade-off.”

The Biden administration has argued that the new regulations will ultimately save consumers money in the long run. But many experts argue that the new regulations will have a negative effect on households, resulting in higher prices, dirtier clothes and dishes.