> While I’m all for being efficient with power, it feels like a waste of resources in this case that could have gone towards more housing (it’s an issue of laws

> While I’m all for being efficient with power, it feels like a waste of resources in this case that could have gone towards more housing (it’s an issue of laws in CA). Keep in mind that homes for Habitat for Humanity go to low income people. Energy efficiency standards for appliances have made them drastically more efficient over the years, and it's probably not great to saddle low income people with higher energy bills. In fact, a big problem with continued improvements in this area is that low income people are the most likely to be living with less efficient appliances, homes with inefficient heating, cooling and insulation, etc. and they also do not have the money to actually upgrade any of that and lower their bills.