Another of President Clinton's outgoing executive orders mandated increasing efficiency standards in washing machines 22 percent by 2004 and 35 percent by 2007. Some high-end clothes washers already meet the new energy standards, but fewer than 9 percent of consumers choose them because they are so much more expensive. The Competitive Enterprise Institute calculates that the only way for a consumer to come out ahead financially with one of the new machines would be to run 392 loads a year and by owning it for 14 years.

Appliance manufacturers welcome the new regulations. One commented: "Selling it in the marketplace is easy if there is a standard in place. It's not a matter, necessarily, of consumer acceptance." Bills have also been introduced in both the House and Senate that would set up tax credits for manufacturers who meet the standard before the deadline, so they will still be paid if consumers balk at the more expensive models.

[Ed.: The Bush administration upheld the new regulation.]

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