The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) has launched two new third-party programs to verify manufacturer energy efficiency and water consumption ratings for clothes washers and dishwashers. These programs will validate the energy ratings made by manufacturers through random testing conducted by an independent laboratory.
Participation in these programs is voluntary, however AHAM has commitments from five major appliance manufacturers eligible for participation. Presently, licensees in the Clothes Washer Verification Program include Alliance Laundry Systems, GE Appliances & Lighting, Miele Inc., Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and Whirlpool Corp. For Dishwashers, licensees include GE Appliances & Lighting, Miele Inc., Samsung Electronics America, Inc., Viking Range Corp. and Whirlpool Corp.
AHAM has been working closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy (DOE) to put in place credible third-party verification programs that are consistent with DOE test procedures, which are the basis for measuring appliance energy use for both DOE appliance standards and for Energy Star.
AHAM currently administers performance and energy-efficiency verification programs for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers and freezers, room air conditioners, dehumidifiers and portable electric room air cleaners. The association is also developing standards to measure the sustainability of appliances in partnership with UL Environment and the Canadian Standards Association.
Pictured: Whirlpool’s new Cabrio high-efficiency top-load washer and dryer.
