U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has recently decided not to tighten the limits on energy and water requirements for residential dishwashers. The decision derives from the review of appliance industry data and after AHAM, the American Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, expresses its opinion about the impact the proposed limits would have had, including dirty dishes, more expensive dishwashers, and challenges for manufacturers. In its final determination, DOE stated «the secretary has determined that the benefits of energy savings, positive net present value of consumer benefits, and emission reductions of more stringent standards are outweighed by the economic burden on over half of dishwasher consumers. Furthermore, the impacts on manufacturers, including the conversion costs and profit margin impacts, could result in a large reduction in industry net present value. Therefore, DOE has determined not to amend the energy conservation standards for residential dishwashers.»
