There’s a new battle brewing in Washington, and the target may be hanging in your living room.
The House of Representatives last month voted to withhold money from the Department of Energy that the agency would use to consider updated efficiency standards for ceiling fans.
Originally enacted by Congress in 2005, the standards were supported by members of the ceiling fan industry—which didn’t want to deal with 50 different sets of state regulations. (Those standards included requiring that fans be able to run in reverse and have more than one speed.) The standards must be reviewed every six years, and the Energy Department is just starting to seek input on how they should be updated–if they should be updated at all.
Opponents say a move to adopt new standards amounts to overregulation, and would threaten to drive up the price of ceiling fans, which already are a low-cost alternative to air conditioning. Supporters say most ceiling fans have inefficient motors and updated standards would save consumers money.
What do you think? Take CUB’s brief 5-question survey to weigh in on the debate.
