Things like this “stalling efficiency mandates for air conditioners and other high-energy products” are eagerly misunderstood by people who are unaware that higher efficiency comes with higher purchase price. The higher purchase price might prevent the purchase.
Most homes use natural gas for heat, etc. As the finite supply of nat gas is used up, the price will rise. Using it to generate electricity makes “for the foreseeable future, natural gas prices will stay low” end sooner.
The fallacy of wind turbines is revealed with simple arithmetic.
5 mW wind turbine, avg output 1/3 nameplate, 20 yr life, electricity @ wholesale 3 cents per kwh produces $8.8E6.
Installed cost @ $1.7E6/mW = $8.5E6. Add the cost of standby CCGT for low wind periods. Add the cost of land lease, maintenance, administration.
Solar voltaic and solar thermal are even worse.
The dollar relation is a proxy for energy relation. Bottom line, the energy consumed to design, manufacture, install, maintain and administer renewables appears to exceed the energy they produce in their lifetime.
Without the energy provided by other sources these renewables could not exist.
CO2 does not, never has, and never will have a significant effect on climate. But something else that humanity is doing does. Discover what does cause climate change (98% match with measured 1895–2015) at http://globalclimatedrivers2.blogspot.com