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Did you ever watch the Jetsons? What about Back to the Future 2 (where the “future” was 2015, by the way)? Maybe you entered the new millennium expecting, in no time, to live in a home with fingerprint key access, voice commands preparing dinner, and perhaps even a robotic friend greeting you at the end of a long day?

We all know what the outdoors can do to revitalize our health.  We feel more connected, nourished, and energized after we venture out of our homes and take a deep, endless breath of fresh air, soak up vitamins from sunlight, or drop in on the crest of an interminable wave. What if I told you that the same raw nourishment from the outdoors can reduce your heating and cooling bill?

How many of you have heard claims that sounded something like these: “Appliance efficiency standards stand in the way of product innovation. Energy efficient appliances simply don’t work as well.  Standards drive up the prices for appliances.” Each claim above, and many more, has been voiced repeatedly by challengers of appliance efficiency standards.