DOE Suspends Energy Efficiency Mandates on Key Home Appliances
In a move supported by NAHB, the Department of Energy (DOE) has announced it will postpone the implementation of the latest round of restrictive energy efficiency mandates on key home energy appliances, including for gas powered instantaneous (tankless) water heaters.
The DOE press release noted that these actions “are a key step in undoing the previous administration’s burdensome policies that have driven up costs, reduced choice and diminished the quality of Americans’ home appliances.”
In addition to the tankless water heaters, the DOE has acted to postpone the new overreaching efficiency standards for the following home appliance rules:
- Central Air Conditioners
- Clothes Washers and Dryers
- General Service Lamps
- Walk-In Coolers and Freezers
- Commercial Refrigeration Equipment
- Air Compressors
Additionally, the DOE is creating a new energy efficiency category for natural gas tankless water heaters that would exempt these products from the Biden administration’s onerous efficiency rules and allow for fair standards that balance efficiency with availability of product features desired by consumers.
NAHB has been actively advocating against efforts to limit the availability and use of gas stoves, and will continue to support efforts to maintain a variety of home appliance options for consumers to help improve housing affordability.
On the congressional front, NAHB continues to work with lawmakers in both chambers to advance congressional resolutions introduced in the House and Senate that seek to block the Biden administration’s recent attempt to ban natural gas water heaters.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Apr 27, 2026
Population Growth and Housing Supply Dynamics at the County LevelU.S. population growth slowed notably in the latest population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, with the nation expanding by just 0.5% in 2025, roughly half the pace of the prior year.
Economics
Apr 27, 2026
Housing’s ‘Silver Tsunami’ Is Coming, But It Won’t Hit Every MarketThe so-called “silver tsunami” describes the wave of millions of homes expected to hit the market as older Americans increasingly decide to sell their properties. However, industry experts are noting that this “tsunami” isn’t landing where it’s needed most.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Apr 23, 2026
The Silver Tsunami Isn’t Landing Where It’s Needed MostThe “silver tsunami” refers to the wave of housing inventory expected as older homeowners downsize or transition out of their homes. According to the latest American Community Survey, there are an estimated 61.2 million people in the U.S. aged 65 years or older, representing about 18% of the population.
Economics
Apr 22, 2026
State-Level Employment Situation: February 2026February’s labor market data point to a notable pullback in employment, with job losses concentrated across a majority of states and only modest gains elsewhere. While January showed solid momentum, February’s decline reflects emerging softness in hiring conditions, alongside uneven performance across the country.
Economics
Apr 21, 2026
Population Growth and Housing Supply Dynamics at the County Level in 2025U.S. population growth slowed notably in the latest Vintage 2025 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, with the nation expanding by just 0.5% in 2025, roughly half the pace of the prior year. The deceleration was primarily driven by a sharp decline in net international migration (NIM), which dropped from 2.7 million to 1.3 million, while natural change remained relatively stable.