California and 13 states announced an agreement Monday with the federal government that will require tougher energy-saving standards on household appliances sold nationwide — everything from water heaters to dishwashers, the Sacramento Bee reports.
The standards, similar to those that have been in place in California for decades, are designed to dramatically reduce climate-changing emissions and save consumers on their energy bills.
The agreement is the result of a lawsuit filed in New York in September 2005 by attorneys general in 14 states, including California, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, demanding that the federal agency update its standards for 20 basic home appliances, including air conditioners, clothes dryers, heaters and fluorescent lamps.
