ENERGY STAR Criteria for Clothes Washers

Review of Market Impact Analysis of Potential Changes

Bill McNary

D&R International

August 31, 2004

Impetus for Clothes Washer Criteria Discussion

• On January 1, 2007, the Federal standard will increase to a minimum Modified Energy Factor (MEF) of 1.26 from the current minimum MEF of 1.04.

• Discussions are necessary to insure that the criteria will:– Provide differentiation between ENERGY STAR qualified

products and products just meeting the Federal standard.– Provide an economic incentive for consumers, utilities, and

other stakeholders to invest in the ENERGY STAR program.

• DOE also wants to examine ways that the ENERGY STAR clothes washer criteria might provide significant water savings.

MEF – Increasing Average

Date Average MEF Number of Qualified

Products Above Average

January 1, 2001 1.65 23

January 1, 2002 1.65 33

January 1, 2003 1.70 38

January 1, 2004 1.74 45

June 30, 2004 1.73 77

August 20, 2004 1.74 81

MEF – Decreasing Savings

Date of Standard and

Criteria

Average Energy Use Federally

Qualified Model

Average Energy Use ENERGY

STAR Qualified Model

Savings of ENERGY STAR Qualified Model

January 1, 2001 829 kWh/year 297 kWh/year 532 kWh/year

January 1, 2004 615 kWh/year 254 kWh/year 361 kWh/year

January 1, 2007 430 kWh/year To Be Determined

To Be Determined

MEF – Qualified Models at Various Levels

Minimum MEF Number of Qualified Products Available*

1.42 181

1.55 125

1.60 120

1.65 110

1.70 94

1.71 92

1.75 80

1.80 72

2.00 27

*ENERGY STAR Product Database, D&R International, August 20, 2004

Water Factor Issue

• Currently neither the Federal standard nor the ENERGY STAR clothes washer criteria contain any limits on water consumption.

• Although there is a correlation between an increase in MEF and a decrease in water consumption, there are exceptions.

• 16 current ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers actually use more water per year than the average non-qualified clothes washer.

• States and water utilities are hesitant to promote ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers without guaranteed water savings.

Qualified Products Available - Scenarios

None 9.5 8.5 7.5 6.5 5.5

1.42 181 144 102 76 63 50

1.60 120 113 91 72 63 50

1.70 94 87 76 64 56 45

1.71 92 85 74 62 54 43

1.80 72 69 66 58 51 42

2.00 27 27 26 26 23 21

Maximum Water Factor

Minimum MEF

ENERGY STAR Product Database, D&R International, August 20, 2004

Potential Energy Savings

MEF ENERGY STAR

Shipments (20%

penetration)

Average Energy Use

Federally Qualified

Model

Average Energy Use ENERGY

STAR Qualified

Model

Savings of ENERGY

STAR Qualified

Model

National Aggregate Savings

(MWh/yr)

1.6 1,629,160 430 kWh/yr 219 kWh/yr 211 kWh/yr 343,753

1.7 1,629,160 430 kWh/yr 208 kWh/yr 222 kWh/yr 361,674

1.8 1,629,160 430 kWh/yr 201 kWh/yr 229 kWh/yr 373,078

Potential Water Savings

Max WF

ENERGY STAR

Shipments (20%

penetration)

Average Water Use Federally Qualified

Model (gallons per

year)

Average Water Use ENERGY

STAR Qualified

Model (gallons per

year)

Savings of ENERGY

STAR Qualified

Model (gallons per year)

National Aggregate Savings (gallons per year)

9.5 1,629,160 14,468 10,055 4,413 7.2 billion

8.5 1,629,160 14,468 8,996 5,472 8.9 billion

7.5 1,629,160 14,468 7,938 6,530 10.6 billion

6.5 1,629,160 14,468 6,880 7,588 12.4 billion

5.5 1,629,160 14,468 5,821 8,647 14.1 billion

Assumes tub capacity of 2.7 cubic feet

Discussion

• The upcoming January 1, 2007 Federal standard change for clothes washers necessitates a reexamination of the ENERGY STAR clothes washer criteria.

• DOE welcomes comments about MEF levels and/or water factor today and by September 17, 2004.

• Any written comments may be submitted to Richard Karney at Richard.Karney@EE.DOE.GOV