Dishwashers and clothes washers must meet the same energy standards, no matter how fast they run

The US Department of Energy wants to eliminate special energy efficiency rules for dishwashers and clothes washers with "short-cycle" settings. This means all new appliances, regardless of cycle length, would need to meet the same energy conservation standards.

For years, appliance manufacturers could sell less energy-efficient models by labeling them as "short-cycle" products. This allowed them to avoid stricter energy standards. The proposed rule closes that loophole, forcing all new appliances to be more efficient.