U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Building Technologies Office – Appliance & Equipment Standards

Commercial Clothes Washers

This page describes rulemaking activities and regulations regarding energy efficiency for commercial clothes washers.

Statutory Authority

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) as amended (42 U.S.C. 6311–6317) requires the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct two rulemaking cycles to determine whether to amend the energy conservation standards for commercial clothes washers. EPCA required completion of the first rulemaking by January 1, 2010, and DOE must complete the second rulemaking by January 1, 2015. (42 U.S.C. 6313(e)). DOE completed the first rulemaking when it issued a final rule to amend the standards for commercial clothes washers on December 18, 2009. (75 FR 1122, January 8, 2010). Compliance with the amended standards is required as of January 8, 2013. The current rulemaking will satisfy the requirement to publish the second final rule by January 1, 2015. Compliance with any amended standards would be required three years after the date of publication of the final standards.

Energy Conservation Standards

Framework

Previous Rulemakings

Final Rule

Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR)

Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Framework

Contact Information

Stephen Witkowski, P.E.
Project Manager
202-586-7463