The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating Energy Star requirements for home dishwashers and furnaces. Effective January 20, 2012, both standard-sized and compact residential dishwashers meeting the new Energy Star requirements will be between 10 and 30 percent more energy efficient than conventional models, and about 8 percent more efficient than dishwashers that met the previous Energy Star requirement.

Beginning February 1, 2012, distributors, contractors and consumers will be able to identify and purchase Energy Star qualified furnaces that are appropriate to their particular climate zones. The furnaces that meet the new requirements for the southern half of the United States will be labeled with a specific U.S. South Energy Star mark. The qualified furnaces in the South, where homes require less heat, will be up to 12 percent more energy efficient than baseline units. Qualified furnaces in the northern half of the United States, including Canada, will bear the standard Energy Star logo and will be up to 16 percent more energy efficient than baseline models. 

The new requirements for residential dishwashers and furnaces are among the 20 revisions to product requirements expected to be completed this year.

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