Updated energy efficiency standards become law

For the first time in more than 15 years, New Jersey passed a law to limit energy waste.

On Jan. 18, Gov. Phil Murphy signed new appliance efficiency standards into law, saving energy, water and money for consumers by updating a set of requirements for several household and commercial appliances, including showerheads and light fixtures.

By 2026, the law will annually save enough energy to power 32,000 homes and enough water to provide for 77,000 families. This is good news for consumers who will benefit from $132 million a year in savings on their monthly utility bills when using appliances that follow the new standards in the future. New Jersey will cut 178,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide — the equivalent of taking 72,000 cars off the road.

“Efficiency standards conserve water and energy, save consumers money on utility bills and prevent unnecessary pollution,” said Rachel Vresilovic, associate for NJPIRG. “We applaud Gov. Murphy for standing with the public and the planet by supporting appliance efficiency standards in New Jersey.”

Read more.

Learn more about our Consumer Protection campaigns.