The US Energy Department has proposed new regulations for gas stoves, including first-of-its-kind limits on energy consumption.
The move has raised concerns from the industry, as the proposed regulations could potentially eliminate certain products from the market.
The proposed regulations also include energy usage standards for electric cooktops and standards for both gas and electric ovens.
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This comes just weeks after the US Consumer Product Safety Commission suggested a ban on gas stoves, which was met with criticism from the gas industry and and from lawmakers ranging from House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers to Senator Joe Manchin.
However, the agency later clarified that it had no plans to ban the products, and the White House also stated that the president does not support a ban.
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While the chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Alexander Hoehn-Saric,said the agency was “not looking to ban gas stoves,” it is moving forward with a Request for Information, the first step in a potential rule making.
Around 40% of US homes use natural gas stoves, which emit air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter, according to studies by the EPA and World Health Organization.
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The Energy Department’s proposal is aimed at reducing energy usage by 30% compared to the least-efficient products currently on the market, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
The proposed standards are based on improved cooking efficiency through design options, such as an optimized burner and improved grates.
While trade groups for appliance manufacturers, such as Whirlpool Corp, have expressed alarm about the proposal, the Energy Department stated that the standards were mandated by Congress and are technically feasible for both gas and electric cooktops.
“We are concerned that this is another attempt by the Federal government to use regulations to remove viable and efficient natural gas products from the market,” Karen Harbert, president of the American Gas Association, said of the Energy Department’s proposal, adding that the group will “carefully evaluate this rule in the coming weeks.”
The department added that the standards would result in $1.7 billion in reduced energy costs, and that every major manufacturer already has products that meet or exceed the proposed requirements.
