Reporter: The Department of Energy has finalized Rule for Energy Savings Standards on appliances, like refrigerators, washing machines, wine beverage chillers, freezers, clothes dryers, dishwashers, electric, gas, and stove tops. Is our kitchen one of the root causes that's killing the environment?

Jean-Pierre: The Department of Energy finalized a congressionally-mandated energy efficiency standard for residential cooking…it's gonna reduce household utility costs while improving appliance reliability and performance.

Reporter: Do the effects on the environment outweigh the added costs of the regulations, for new manufacturing plants to be built, changing standards, redesigning equipment, that kind of thing?

Jean-Pierre: We're talking about making sure these products are efficient.