EPA Announces New ENERGY STAR Requirements for Dishwashers and Furnaces
EPA is updating ENERGY STAR requirements for dishwashers and furnaces. Effective January 20, 2012, both standard-sized and compact residential dishwashers meeting the new ENERGY STAR requirements will be between 10 and 30% more energy efficient than conventional models, and about 8% more efficient than dishwashers that met the previous ENERGY STAR requirement. Distributors, contractors and consumers will also be able to identify and purchase ENERGY STAR qualified furnaces that are appropriate to their particular climate zone beginning February 1, 2012. The furnaces that meet the new requirements for the southern half of the U.S. will be labeled with a specific U.S. South ENERGY STAR mark. The qualified furnaces in the South, where homes require less heat, will be up to 12% more energy efficient than baseline units. Qualified furnaces in the northern half of the U.S. including Canada will bear the standard ENERGY STAR logo and will be up to 16% more energy efficient than baseline models.