What the government’s ceiling fan proposal means for you

The Biden administration is recommending another household item be upgraded for energy efficiency following gas stoves, dishwashers, light bulbs and water heaters. This time it’s ceiling fans. The Department of Energy says its latest proposal to limit the emissions related to using ceiling fans will save a “significant” amount of energy and reduce air pollution.

If applied to standard residential ceiling fans, the Energy Department says the rule would cut electricity costs by about 40% relative to the least efficient fans currently on the market. The department’s suggestion has gained stark opposition, much like when the government proposed regulations on gas stoves.

According to this story’s media landscape, powered by Ground.News, most outlets are not covering it. However, the right-leaning sites covering this story are blaming Biden, like the New York Post, whose headline reads “Biden admin’s latest home appliance crackdown: ceiling fans.”

Left-leaning outlets are calling out the right’s reaction, like Salon‘s headline: “The latest right-wing panic? Joe Biden is coming for your ceiling fans!”

As media outlets report on the DOE’s proposal, Republican lawmakers are reacting to it. Congressman Ronny Jackson of Texas posted, “Get your filthy tyrant hands off of my ceiling fans!!” 

GET YOUR FILTHY TYRANT HANDS OFF OF MY CEILING FANS!! https://t.co/YFfbaqlFja

— Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) August 25, 2023

Congressman Ben Cline, R-Va., said, “First, they went after your car. Then they targeted your gas stoves. Now, they are coming for your ceiling fans. America will continue to reject the Biden climate police’s authoritarianism.” 

First, they went after your car.

Then, they targeted your gas stoves.

Now, they are coming for your ceiling fans.

America will continue to reject the Biden Climate Police’s authoritarianism.

— Congressman Ben Cline (@RepBenCline) August 25, 2023

As the media reacts, the question remains: Are your ceiling fans in jeopardy?

The Biden administration wants ceiling fan manufacturers to meet more efficient standards. The DOE says energy-efficient fans would save households $39 in energy costs over the lifetime of the new and improved fan.

Although, the agency predicts given its new design, consumers could expect the price of fans to increase by about $10 apiece. The government says the weight of the financial burden of the potential ceiling fan transition would be cast on the fan manufacturers.

The conversion to an energy-efficient design would cost $107 million. Republicans on the House Committee on Small Business argue that may put between 10 to 30% of small fan manufacturers out of business.

The GOP members of the group sent a letter to the Department of Energy warning it of the potential impact if the new ceiling fan standards were to go into effect.

In a statement to Fox Business on Friday, Aug. 25, a DOE spokesperson said, “These proposed standards, which are required by Congress, wouldn’t take effect until 2028, would give Americans more energy efficient options to choose from, and would save hardworking taxpayers up to $369 million per year, while substantially reducing harmful air pollution — a crucial fact that some have conveniently failed to mention.”

The public comment period on the proposal ended last week.

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