Biden administration updates efficiency standards for washing machines & clothes dryers

The Biden administration announced Thursday its new energy-saving standards for new washing machines and clothes dryers. These benchmarks will ensure that laundry appliances sold nationwide starting in 2028 use less energy and help improve high levels of performance.

“Waste is out of fashion, so laundry day in America is about to get a lot less energy-intensive,” said Johanna Neumann, Senior Director of the Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy at Environment America Research & Policy Center. “Thanks to these rules, we’ll have cleaner clothes and cleaner air at the same time.”

The updated standards for both appliances, which were jointly recommended by manufacturers and consumer, climate and efficiency advocates, are expected to avert 71 million metric tons of global warming pollution over 30 years. That’s the equivalent of taking more than 178 gas-fired power plants offline for a year.