President
Obama last week mandated new energy efficiency standards for home appliances. The new regulations, when drawn up by the Department of Energy, will apply to refrigerators, microwaves and dishwashers, and are meant to help consumers have $500 off their energy bills,
the Wall Street Journal reported. Obama's action amounted to an order to the Department of Energy to produce the standards, which they must do by August. The president specifically asked that standards with the biggest savings be completed ahead of schedule.