“An Act Relative to Expanding Resource Efficiency in the Commonwealth” (Bill H.3404) is currently awaiting review by the Massachusetts House Committee on Ways and Means. Filed by Representative Frank Smizik of Brookline, the bill promotes increased energy and water efficiency standards and saves both residents and businesses serious money. Products covered in this bill include general appliances such as computers, monitors and water coolers; plumbing products such as faucets, showerheads, urinals and toilets; and lighting products, specifically high-CRI fluorescent lamps.

The Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP) finds that the requirements in Bill H.3404 would save residents, businesses and governments more than $160 million annually and reduce electricity consumption by nearly 3 percent by 2025. The bill would also save 5 billion gallons of water annually and reduce Co2 emissions by 173,000 metric tons per year by 2025, which is the equivalent of taking nearly 40,000 cars off the road.

However, a critical question looms— will these standards increase the cost of appliances in the Commonwealth? The answer is no. Compliance across most of these product lines is already cost-competitive and will yield savings from day one.

“It’s a no-brainer,” comments Marianne DiMascio of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. “We have support from utilities, environmental organizations, consumer groups, industry trade associations and manufacturers.”

The bill currently sits in the House Ways and Means Committee after favorable reception in the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

To read Bill H.3404 and track its progress, visit MALegislature.Gov/Bills/190/H3404.