The Washington Post reports that “Energy Department rules or “standards” that require ever-improving levels of energy efficiency for dishwashers, refrigerators and much more come out regularly.”  

“On Thursday, though, the Department released what it is describing as the “largest energy-saving standard in history” and one that “will save more energy than any other standard issued by the Department to date” — a standard governing commercial air conditioners and furnaces, devices seen as consuming a gigantic amount of energy across America.”