Decades of efficiency mandates have made dishwashers weaker, A.C. units feebler, and appliances more expensive. A new rollback offers a rare win for function over dogma.
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Lastweek,PresidentDonaldTrump’sadministrationturneditschainsawsontheDepartmentofEnergy(DOE),cutting,canceling,orpausingahandfulofonerousregulationssettohobblehouseholdandcommercialappliances.Anyonewho’scoughedupasmallfortuneforabarelyfunctionalmachinelatelyknowsthestakes.
My30-year-oldBoschdishwasherwasamarvel—efficient,precise—scouringdishesin45minuteslikeaPrussiandrillsergeantonadeadline.Lastmonth,itdied.Idropped$800onasleeksuccessor,expectingprogress.Instead,Igotatwo-hourgrease-smearingfarcethatleavesforks,likemyoptimism,cakedinthegrimeofdashedhopes—avictimoftheDOE’sregulatorystraitjacket.
My1979brickranchcreaksonintosenescence,itsheater,air-conditioning,fans,andwaterheater—bastionsofabygoneeraofapplianceliberty—teetering.Replacingthemlikelymeanspayingthousandsofdollarsforlesser-ablemachines.That’
