Johanna Neumann
Senior Director, Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy, Environment America Research & Policy Center
Biden administration sets new efficiency standards for washing machines, clothes dryers
Media Contacts
WASHINGTON – The Biden administration announced Thursday its new energy- and water-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. “We’ll be able to have both 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 according to the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. That’s the equivalent of taking more than 178 gas-fired power plants offline for a year.
Neumann testified before the Department of Energy in support of stronger efficiency standards in March of 2023. Then, during a public comment period that ended last May, supporters of Environment America and allied organizations directed more than 9,000 comments to the Department of Energy in support of proposed efficiency requirements for washing machines.
“People agree that we can have clean clothes without needlessly wasting energy and water,” said Neumann. “We’re thrilled the Department of Energy recognized the public support for common-sense, energy saving solutions and finalized efficiency standards for washing machines and clothes dryers.”
Clothes dryers are one of the biggest energy-users in many homes. The least-efficient electric dryers on the market today account for nearly a tenth of the average home’s total electricity usage. Thanks to the updated standards, all new dryers sold in America will be reasonably energy-efficient starting in 2028.
The bulk of the energy savings from new washing machine efficiency standards comes from bringing inefficient top-loading washing machines up to par with more efficient models. Efficient washing machines waste less energy and water. Efficient washing machines also reduce energy use by dryers because clothes come out of the washing machine less wet, meaning the dryer has to do less work. Water heaters also reduce energy use by water heaters because efficient washing machines consume less water than their inefficient counterparts.
Updated efficiency standards for these two appliances are long overdue. The Department of Energy last updated efficiency standards for dryers in 2011 and washing machines in 2012.
“To build the energy system of the future, we need to work smarter, not harder,” said Neumann. “Making sure appliances such as washers and dryers don’t needlessly waste energy checks that box.”