CEE Appliance Committee revises specifications
CEE is revising its specifications for residential dishwashers and commercial clothes washers, and is considering the addition of a new category to its residential refrigerator specification.
Dishwashers
The new dishwasher specification, which has been approved by the CEE Board of Directors, takes effect Jan. 1, 2007.
It includes two tiers for standard-size dishwashers and one performance level for compact models.
The Energy Factor (EF) requirement in the Tier 1 specification and the compact dishwasher specification are identical to the performance levels set by ENERGY STAR® (which will also take effect Jan. 1, 2007).
The harmonization of these specifications with ENERGY STAR will make it easier for CEE members to run programs since the easily-recognized ENERGY STAR label can be used as a marketing platform. Manufacturers have also expressed their interest in seeing ENERGY STAR and CEE specifications harmonized.
CEE dishwasher specification
(effective Jan. 1, 2007)
|
|
Level
|
Energy
Factor (EF)
|
Maximum
annual
kWh
|
|
Standard-sized
dishwashers
|
|
Tier 1
|
0.65
|
339
|
|
Tier 2
|
0.68
|
325
|
|
Compact dishwashers
|
|
Tier 1
|
0.88
|
252
|
Commercial clothes washers
CEE’s proposed revision of the commercial clothes washer specification would make it identical to CEE’s 2007 residential clothes washer specification. The commercial washer specification proposal was finalized by CEE’s Clothes Washer Committee in mid-July and will be sent out for manufacturer comments in August.
The committee’s goal is to gain Board approval for the new specification before the end of the year so it can go into effect on January 1, 2007.
The following specifications are also on track to become effective on this date: CEE’s residential clothes washer specification, the ENERGY STAR residential and commercial clothes washer specification (the same performance levels for both) and the federal minimum standard for residential clothes washers.
Refrigerators
CEE’s Residential Appliances Committee is exploring the inclusion of compact refrigerators in the Super-Efficient Home Appliances Initiative. At present, the refrigerator specification only applies to mid- and full-size models.
The committee is planning to send a specification (including compact models) to industry stakeholders for comment in August and is hoping for a review by the CEE Board of Directors before the end of the year.
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