The Department of Energy announced common-sense energy efficiency standards for residential clothes washers and dishwashers that will save consumers $20 billion in energy and water costs. The clothes washers standard announced in June will save households approximately $350 over the lifetime of the appliance. And home dishwashers will use approximately 15 percent less energy and more than 20 percent less water, directly providing consumers with savings on monthly bills.
“Clothes washer and dishwasher energy efficiency has improved dramatically over the past two decades while also improving clothes-washing performance and maintaining dish-washing performance,” said Steve Nadel, Executive Director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
“These improvements have been driven by a combination of manufacturer and utility efforts, Energy Star, federal tax incentives and minimum efficiency standards. We support the new DOE minimum efficiency standards, which will raise the floor, helping to spur further efficiency improvements.
Today, clothes washers and dishwashers account for approximately 3 percent of residential energy use and more than 20 percent 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 percent and reduce water consumption by 35 percent, while top-loading washers will save 33 percent on energy and 19 percent on water use.
