Efficiency has taken a leading role in the pursuit of more sustainable energy practices. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced new rules on appliance efficiency that could drastically cut carbon emissions as well as utility bills.

On May 5, the DOE announced proposed or final efficiency standards in three product categories. The rules apply to electric motors, dishwashers and beverage vending machines.

Together, they represent potential savings of about $652 million in utility bills annually and more than $10 billion over 30 years.

The direct final rule for electric motors, which are commonly used in manufacturing and process equipment, will come into effect in 2027. The DOE expects the rule to save $464 million per year on energy costs and up to $8.8 billion in utility bills over the 30 years after it goes into effect. It is also projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 91.7 million metric tons.

The proposed rule for dishwashers would also come into effect in 2027, if adopted by the DOE. It is projected to save consumers approximately $168 million per year on utility bills and nearly $3 billion over 30 years. In that time, the rule could also save 240 billion gallons of water, which is equivalent to the water in 360,000 Olympic-sized pools.

The proposed rules for beverage vending machines are projected to reduce energy costs for American businesses by $20 million annually and save consumers $330 million in utility bills over 30 years.

The rules are the DOE’s latest steps to deliver savings through appliance efficiency, as directed by Congress.

DOE has now issued proposed or final efficiency standards for 16 different product categories for the year. Over 30 years, these standards, combined with additional planned standards, are projected to save $570 billion on consumer energy bills. They will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2.4 billion metric tons.

DOE’s Building Technologies Office implements minimum energy conservation standards for more than 60 categories of appliances and equipment.