In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a ban on many popular home and commercial appliances and plumbing fixtures takes effect Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 thanks to a regulatory bill signed by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker in March of 2021.
The bill, “An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy,” applies to both commercial and residential appliances and includes limits on the sale of everything from lights and plumbing fixtures to ovens and water coolers.
The rules will govern what kind of appliances can be manufactured and installed in the state at a very granular level.
For example, the law will now require that all bathroom faucets be limited to a flow rate of less than 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm), while residential kitchen faucets and replacement aerators shall not be greater than 1.8 gpm with optional temporary flow of 2.2 gpm.
A similar bill from Rep. Bill Pluecker (I-Warren) received support in the Maine House of Representatives but died in the State Senate in November of 2020.
Maine is almost guaranteed to see a renewed effort to micromanage appliances once the State Legislature returns to Augusta in January.
Similar bills have popped up in other states as environmentalists look to control what appliances can be manufactured or purchased.
In Massachusetts, the Department of Energy Resources has already established a tip line for residents to drop a dime on anyone they suspect of not adhering to the guidelines.
The state government has created a comprehensive online form that will allow anyone who suspects that their local supermarket or restaurant may have installed urinals that aren’t efficient enough. Violators may face stuff fines.
Even products made in other states must be certified compliant with the Massachusetts regulation before they can be shipped to or installed in the state. Covered products must also be precisely labeled according to the new rules.
The recent appliance ban in Massachusetts, effective January 1, 2023, aims to regulate the sale and installation of various household and commercial appliances to meet new environmental standards. For those in Johns Creek, GA, keeping your appliances in good working condition remains crucial. If you need reliable service, consider appliance repair johns-creek for expert repair solutions, ensuring your appliances remain efficient and compliant with local standards. This can help mitigate some of the impacts of such regulatory changes.