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

Building Technologies Office – Appliance & Equipment Standards

Dishwashers

Recent Updates: The Final Rule to codify Amendments to the Test Procedures for Residential Dishwashers, Dehumidifiers, and Cooking Products was authorized by the Department of Energy on September 17, 2012. This document will amend the test procedure for the aforementioned products to address active, standby and off mode energy use.

The link to the document is below under the Current Test Procedures Rulemaking Activity.

This page describes rulemaking activities and regulations regarding energy efficiency for residential dishwashers.

Statutory Authority

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), as amended, prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and commercial and industrial equipment. EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to determine whether amended, more stringent standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would save a significant amount of energy. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007) subsequently prescribed standards for dishwashers, fulfilling DOE's obligation. Therefore, DOE did not amend the standards for dishwashers in the final rule for residential dishwashers, dehumidifiers, and cooking products, and commercial clothes washers, but instead codified the statutory standards in the EISA En Masse Technical Amendment. EISA 2007 also amended EPCA to direct DOE to amend its test procedure for dishwashers to include measures of standby mode and off mode energy consumption.

Current Test Procedure Rulemaking Activity

Test Procedure Final Rule

Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNOPR)

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR)

NOPR Test Procedure Public Meeting Information and Meeting Materials

Test Procedure Contact Information

Wes Anderson
Project Manager
(202) 586-7335

Energy Conservation Standards

Direct Final Rule

After a regulatory action has been issued, Section 6(a)(3)(E) of EO 12866 requires agencies to identify in a complete, clear, and simple manner, the substantive changes between the draft submitted to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review and the action subsequently announced, and identify those changes in the regulatory action that were made at the suggestion or recommendation of OIRA. The document at the link below is intended to comply with this requirement.

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Prescribed Standards

Final Rule

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR)

Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR)

Framework

Public Meetings and Meeting Materials (Past Rulemakings)

Additional Information (Past Rulemakings)

Contact Information

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