In July 2021, Maine passed appliance standards legislation that effectively adopts California’s appliance efficiency regulations, as those regulations were in effect on January 1, 2021, for the following appliances:
- computers and computer monitors
- certain general service lamps
- commercial hot food holding cabinets
- plumbing fittings that are showerheads, lavatory faucets, kitchen faucets, public lavatory faucets, metering faucets, kitchen replacement aerators and lavatory replacement aerators
- plumbing fixtures that are water closets and urinals
- portable electric spas
- spray sprinkler bodies
- water dispensers
giving the Department of Environmental Protection the authority to set minimum efficiency standards for 10 household and commercial products. The legislation is expected to lead to substantial consumer savings on utility bills and reductions in carbon emissions.