New water heater rules mean fewer models will qualify for sale in the US
What happened
The US Department of Energy has tightened efficiency standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. This means manufacturers will have to redesign their products to use less energy, or stop selling them in the US.
Why it matters
For years, manufacturers could sell less efficient gas water heaters. Now, the government is forcing them to improve their designs. This will slowly remove less efficient models from the market, reducing energy use in homes.
The signal
Watch for new models of gas water heaters to appear on the market that meet the new standards, and for older, less efficient models to disappear from store shelves.