Summary

  • US President Donald Trump has directed the Department of Energy to rescind or weaken water and energy efficiency regulations for domestic appliances.
  • The president also wants the efficiency standards for showers, faucets, toilets and urinals to be abolished.
  • This move follows reports this week that Trump is considering closing the Energy Star certification programme.
  • This programme provides consumers with an independent certification for energy-efficient appliances, enabling them to identify such products through the Energy Star label.
  • The Trump administration claims that these rules are consumer protections, but industry experts say getting rid of the standards will raise consumer costs.

By Justine Calma

Original Article