US energy efficiency rules will be rewritten to match a new executive order

The US Department of Energy is asking for public comments on how to change its rules for setting energy efficiency standards. This means the way the government decides how much energy appliances and industrial equipment can use will likely change.

For decades, the process for setting energy efficiency standards has been a slow, technical negotiation. This request for information signals that the underlying rules for that process are about to shift. It could make it easier or harder to set new standards, depending on what the new executive order prioritizes.