WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the first clothes dryers to be certified under its Energy Star efficiency program are now available through major retailers nationwide.
At least 45 models have earned the Energy Star label, bearing such brands as Whirlpool, Maytag, Kenmore and LG. The models are comparably priced to standard dryers but are at least 20 percent more efficient, the agency said.
Dryers consume more energy than any other home appliance, EPA noted, and have lagged behind washers in energy efficiency. Manufacturers have managed to meet the new spec by incorporating advanced sensors that more effectively detect when clothes are dry and stop the machines. More advanced models feature heat-pump technology that reuses hot air, and are 40 percent more efficient than conventional dryers.
Dryers are the latest majap addition to the 20-yearold Energy Star program, which has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by some 2 billon metric tons over the past two decades, EPA estimated.
