Page 33 - Lighting Magazine - August 2013
P. 33
Blown AwAy
U.S. REPRESENTATIVES ROKITA &
BLACKBURN FIGHT AGAINST
CEILING FAN REGULATION
U.S. Representative Todd Rokita (R-IN), a member of the
House Budget Commitee, released the following statement
afer passage of an amendment he introduced along with U.S.
Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to fght back against
unnecessary regulations being imposed on American ceiling fan
9 manufacturers by the Department of Energy (DOE): The disre-
gard the Obama Energy Department bureaucrats have for the
practical implications of their red tape is outrageous. Instead of
enacting policies to ensure Americans have access to abundant,
afordable energy the life blood of our economy they are is-
suing regulations atacking ceiling fans, the most energy-efcient
cooling devices on the market. These counterproductive
regulations will only drive up the prices of ceiling fans and
encourage the use of less energy-efcient cooling systems. This
is yet another example of this administration double dipping in
the pockets of Americans: using taxpayer dollars to raise prices
on consumers.
Blackburn added, These new regulations will curb increased
consumer trends, which currently include placing ceiling fans
in laundry rooms, closets, and master bathrooms. In short, new
DOE regulations will increase energy use, decrease consumer
choice, and increase the price tag for less aesthetically pleasing
designs which could price some consumers out of the energy-
efciency market, which hurts the overall goal of energy
savings.
Blackburn and Rokita secured a provision in H.R. 2609, the
Fiscal Year 2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, that
would prevent any funds from being used by DOE to fnalize,
implement, or enforce the proposed Standards Ceiling Fans
and Ceiling Fan Light Kits rule.
Ceiling fans and ceiling fan light kits already face existing
regulations set in place by the Energy Policy Act of 2005
9. FaniMation (EPACT 2005). These existing provisions burden the ceiling fan
The Pearson features 360 degrees industry with inefective mandates. However, on March 11, 2013,
of continuous orbital motion. It is the Department of Energy (DOE) released a 101-page rulemak-
available in Brushed Nickel with Black ing framework document evaluating potential energy-savings
Blades (shown) as well as Oil-Rubbed requirements on ceiling fans through new regulations. The new
Bronze with matching blades. There regulations being considered by DOE would signifcantly impair
are three forward speeds and a wall the ability of ceiling fan manufacturers to produce reasonably
control (included). priced, highly decorative fans. These regulations would not only
www.fanimation.com place a higher price tag on less aesthetically pleasing designs,
but could increase homeowners reliance on other cooling
systems that consume more electricity.
august 2013 | enLIGHTenment Magazine 31
