HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania households and businesses are set to benefit significantly from newly updated national appliance efficiency standards, projected to bring substantial financial and environmental gains. According to an analysis released by the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP), these changes promise an average annual saving of $128 on utility bills for the typical Pennsylvania household over the next two decades. Moreover, Pennsylvania businesses stand to save an estimated $68.2 million annually on energy costs.
Flora Cardoni, Deputy Director of the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center, emphasized the financial benefits, stating, “These updated standards will save consumers money for years to come, just by using more efficient appliances. It’s a clear win for Pennsylvanians’ wallets.”
The standards, updated under President Joe Biden’s administration, encompass a variety of household appliances, ensuring that consumers will encounter better products that avoid unnecessary energy consumption. Andrew deLaski, Executive Director of ASAP, noted, “Consumers are going to save money year after year thanks to efficiency standards set during the Biden administration.”
Beyond financial savings, the analysis highlights environmental benefits, projecting a reduction in sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxides pollution by 371 tons and 392 tons per year, respectively, over the next twenty years in Pennsylvania. These pollutants are known to harm the human respiratory system, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.
“The Biden administration’s updated appliance efficiency standards will help Pennsylvanians live longer, healthier lives,” Cardoni added, pointing to the broader impact on public health and the environment.
These standards are part of a larger effort by the Biden administration to slash climate emissions by half by the end of the decade, compared to 2005 levels. The improvements in appliance efficiency align with broader strategies to combat climate change and promise to play a vital role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Pennsylvania. As the state embraces these changes, both economic and environmental prospects look promising for its residents and businesses.
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