Dishwashers Specification Revised

ENERGY STAR Update
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Tuesday, May 19, 2015

On April 29, 2015, EPA finalized its revision to the ENERGY STAR residential dishwasher specification. The criteria establish strict new energy efficiency requirements for residential dishwashers, providing significant energy and cost savings to the consumer and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The updated requirements highlight the most energy and water efficient products on the market. For the first time since 2013, the ENERGY STAR label will recognize a selection of highly efficient compact dishwashers. A test method for cleaning performance will also help EPA continue to ensure that ENERGY STAR products save energy and water without sacrificing on the functions consumers expect.  

This specification also establishes the first set of optional “connected” criteria for residential dishwashers. ENERGY STAR dishwashers with connected functionality will offer consumers new convenience and energy-savings features, such as alerts for cycle completion and/or recommended maintenance, as well as feedback on the energy use of the product. These products will also be “smart grid” ready, meaning they will give consumers the option to connect their dishwasher with their local utility to save money on their energy bills, where those services are offered, and also facilitate broader electric power system efficiency.

Under the new criteria, ENERGY STAR certified standard dishwashers will use, on average, approximately 12% less energy and 25% less water than required by minimum efficiency standards. ENERGY STAR compact dishwashers will deliver 9% energy savings and 11% water savings over conventional compact products. If all residential dishwashers sold in the United States met these new requirements, the utility cost savings would grow to more than $545 million each year and more than 6 billion pounds of annual greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented, equivalent to the emissions from more than 650,000 vehicles.

To earn the ENERGY STAR label, products must be certified by an EPA-recognized third party, based on testing in an EPA-recognized laboratory. In addition, manufacturers of the products must participate in verification testing programs run by recognized certification bodies.

ENERGY STAR is the simple choice for energy efficiency. For more than 20 years, people across America have looked to EPA’s ENERGY STAR program for guidance on how to save energy, save money, and protect the environment. Behind each blue label is a product, building, or home that is independently certified to use less energy and cause fewer of the emissions that contribute to climate change. Today, ENERGY STAR is the most widely recognized symbol for energy efficiency in the world, helping families and businesses save $300 billion on utility bills, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by two billion metric tons since 1992. Join the millions who are already making a difference at energystar.gov.