New Efficiency Standards for Washers and Dishwashers to Save Billions

05/18/2012

Clean Edge News

The Department of Energy recently announced energy efficiency standards for residential clothes washers and dishwashers that aim to save consumers $20 billion in energy and water costs. The new standards for both clothes washers and dishwashers were informed by feedback from manufacturers, consumer groups, and environmental advocates. The clothes washers standard should save households approximately $350 over the lifetime of the appliance, and as a result of the standards for dishwashers, home dishwashers will use approximately 15% less energy and more than 20% less water, providing direct savings on monthly bills. This announcement is the most recent in a series of efficiency standards made by the Obama Administration that have covered nearly 40 different products, and could together save consumers nearly $350 billion on their energy bills through 2030.

The new standards—developed in partnership with companies like Whirlpool, General Electric and LG Electronics, industry advocates, environmental organizations, consumer groups, and other stakeholders—build on previous minimum energy efficiency requirements for clothes washers and dishwashers and go into effect starting in 2015 and 2013, respectively. Today, clothes washers and dishwashers account for approximately 3% of residential energy use and more than 20% of indoor water use in homes across the country. The new standards for clothes washers will reduce the energy consumption of front-loading clothes washers by 15% and reduce water consumption by 35%, while top-loading washers will save 33% on energy and 19% on water use.