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FAQs for
CLOTHES WASHER and
DISHWASHER PRODUCT LISTS
CEE does not administer rebate programs. Consumers who have questions about qualifying models and/or rebates SHOULD CONTACT THEIR LOCAL UTILITY.
Rebates · Qualifying product lists ·
Efficiency specifications
REBATES
If I see my model on the CEE list, does that mean I qualify for a rebate?
Not necessarily. Each rebate program is different. The utility running the program determines what models will qualify for its rebates, sometimes basing qualification on CEE efficiency specifications (i.e., CEE tiers). For example, some utilities may only offer rebates for CEE Tier 1, while some utilities offer rebates for all tiers but at different rebate values.
How can I find out about rebates in my area?
Typically, rebate programs are run by your local utility. If you are unsure who your electricity or gas provider is, we recommend you look at your most recent energy bill. Visit your utility's Web site or give the company a call to find out what rebates are being offered in your area.
I applied for a rebate and I haven't heard back, or my rebate has been rejected. Can CEE intervene?
CEE does not administer rebate programs, and we do not mitigate between program administrators and their customers. The only people who can answer rebate questions are the folks working at your local utility.
Why is the CEE qualifying products list featured on my utility's Web site?
CEE is a nonprofit organization with membership
across North America. Many CEE members are utilities that offer rebate programs. CEE works with its members, the ENERGY STAR program and others to develop efficiency specifications that utilities may choose to adopt in their incentive programs. Uuse of these specifications and participation in the incentive program is voluntary.
The clothes washer and dishwasher products lists are one service that CEE provides to its members. Some efficiency programs link to these lists on their Web sites to provide customers with the most recent listing of efficient products. CEE is not responsible for the administration of any rebate programs, however.
CEE QUALIFYING PRODUCT LISTS
How do products qualify for the list?
To qualify for the CEE product lists, models must meet the efficiency specifications developed by CEE. These specifications are available on the CEE Web site. For more information on these specifications, see the Efficiency Specifications section below. Manufacturers are responsible for submitting information about their products to CEE in order for their models to appear on the list.
How often does CEE update its product lists?
Residential clothes washers and dishwashers
CEE updates the residential clothes washer and dishwasher lists on or around the 15th of every month. In order to guarantee that a model appears on the CEE list, manufacturers should submit data by the 8th of the month. Late submissions are added to the next month's list.
Commercial clothes washers
CEE updates the commercial clothes washer list on the 15th of the month in which we receive new submissions. This list is usually updated about twice a year.
What if the model that I'm looking for is not listed, but I think it should be?
If your model is not listed on the CEE list, but you believe it should be, first refresh your Web browser. Surprisingly, this is often the problem!
If it is still missing, reference the ENERGY STAR Web site (for clothes washers or dishwashers) and see if the model is listed there. If it is, note the efficiency levels and check to see if the model meets CEE's efficiency specifications (sometimes they are different from those of ENERGY STAR).
Based on the efficiency criteria, if you still feel that the model should be on CEE's list, it is likely that the manufacturer has not yet submitted data to CEE or that CEE has not yet processed this data. ENERGY STAR and CEE lists are maintained separately and have different processes for adding qualifying products to their lists. We recommend that you check back on the 15th of the following month to see if the model has been added.
CEE EFFICIENCY SPECIFICATIONS
The CEE specifications are available on the CEE Web site. Products must meet all efficiency requirements for a CEE tier (e.g., MEF and WF) in order to be listed for that tier. If the product only meets one of the requirements for a higher tier (e.g., only MEF), and only meets a lower tier for the second requirement (e.g., WF), the product qualifies for the lower tier.
What do the efficiency metrics stand for?
Clothes washers
Modified Energy Factor or MEF, is a combination of Energy Factor and Remaining Moisture Content (RMC). MEF measures energy consumption of the total laundry cycle (washing and drying). It indicates how many cubic feet of laundry can be washed and dried with one kWh of electricity; the higher the number, the greater the efficiency.
Water Factor or WF is the number of gallons needed for each cubic foot of laundry. A lower number indicates lower consumption and more efficient use of water.
Dishwashers
Energy Factor or EF is the dishwasher energy performance metric. EF is expressed in cycles per kilowatt-hours (kWh) and is the reciprocal of the sum of the machine electrical energy per cycle plus the water heating energy consumption per cycle.
Annual kilowatt-hour consumption is the number of kWh (energy) a dishwasher consumes in a year, assuming 215 cycles annually plus an allowance of 1 Watt of standby power (i.e., power drawn when a dishwasher is not actively running). This metric exists in an effort to keep standby power at 1 Watt or less.
How often are CEE specifications revised?
CEE specifications are not revised on a specific or consistent timeline. Rather CEE evaluates its specifications within its program committees when changes in technology, product market availability, and other factors occur. For more information on how the CEE process works, please explore our Web site.
How is CEE different from ENERGY STAR?
ENERGY STAR, a program run by the federal government, establishes efficiency specifications for many appliances, products and equipment. CEE is a nonprofit organization helping utilities run programs that provide rebates and education about energy efficiency. CEE and ENERGY STAR do work together and in many cases, their specifications are the same. That is not always the case, however.
For example, CEE's current dishwasher and clothes washer specifications differ from those of ENERGY STAR. Therefore it is possible to have an ENERGY STAR-qualified clothes washer or dishwasher that does not meet CEE's criteria.
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