Today the 9th Circuit cleared the path for California to adopt efficiency standards that will save California more than 66 billion gallons of water, over 500 GWh of electricity, and 50 million therms of natural gas by 2025.  This would be an important step towards putting more cash in Californians pockets and less pollution in the air at any time, but it is especially critical now. 

The state is facing a severe drought, and the legislature is grappling with what to do about it.  Water efficiency (the "virtual river") should be at the top of the list of solutions.

The Court's decision does not mean that California's washer efficiency standard will go into effect immediately, but we have reason to hope that, under new leadership, the Department of Energy (DOE) will see the many benefits of such a standard:

• Saves Water: the standard will save at least 66 billion gallons of water by 2025;
• Saves Money: a six year payback on a machine that has at least a 14 year life (ie: 8 years of savings)
• Saves Energy: 20% of electricity in California is used to move water.  Saving water means saving electricity.
• Track Record: efficiency standards for refrigerators have resulted in a 75% reduction in energy, at the same time that size and quality of refrigerators continued to increase;
• Customer Satisfaction: 95%-99% of customers with efficient washers are satisfied or very satisfied.  And that was from a poll 10 years ago - the technology has only improved since then.