As defined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), “dishwasher” means a cabinet-like appliance that with the aid of water and detergent, washes, rinses, and dries (when a drying process is included) dishware, glassware, eating utensils, and most cooking utensils by chemical, mechanical and/or electrical means and discharges to the plumbing drainage system. 10 CFR 430.2 Manufacturers have been required to comply with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) energy conservation standards for residential dishwashers since 1988.
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DOE has published a Federal Register notice proposing to rescind the amended water use standards for residential dishwashers. This will return the water use requirement for a standard size dishwasher to the statutory standard of 6.5 gallons per cycle and for a compact size dishwasher to the statutory standard of 4.5 gallons per cycle.
In light of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granting a petition for review of a final rule published by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on January 19, 2022, and remanding the matter to DOE for further proceedings, DOE has considered the factors outlined by the Fifth Circuit on whether “short-cycle” product classes for dishwashers, residential clothes washers, and consumer clothes dryers are warranted under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act and therefore has published a Federal Register notice confirming the withdrawal of “short-cycle” product classes in the January 19, 2022, final rule.
- The final rule published on January 19, 2022 (87 FR 2673) was effective on February 18, 2022.
DOE published a direct final rule to establish new energy conservation standards for dishwashers in the Federal Register on April 24, 2024. DOE has determined that the comments received in response to the direct final rule do not provide a reasonable basis for withdrawing the direct final rule. Therefore, DOE has published this Federal Register notice confirming the effective and compliance dates of those standards.
- The technical correction in this document is effective October 17, 2024.
- The effective date of August 22, 2024, for the direct final rule published April 24, 2024 (89 FR 31398) is confirmed. Compliance with the standards established in the direct final rule will be required on April 23, 2027.
Standards
Proposed Rule - Federal Register, 90FR20859 (May 16, 2025)
Direct Final Rule; Confirmation of Effective and Compliance Dates
Direct Final Rule- Federal Register, 89FR83611 (October 17, 2024)
- Federal Register, 89FR31398 (April 24, 2024)
- Technical Support Document
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Federal Register, 89FR31096 (April 24, 2024)
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Federal Register, 88FR32514 (May 19, 2023)
- Technical Support Document
Notification of a Webinar and Availability of Preliminary TSD - Federal Register, 87FR3450 (January 24, 2022)
- Technical Support Document
Request For Information - Federal Register, 85FR64981 (October 13, 2020)
The residential dishwashers energy conservation standard rulemaking docket EERE-2019-BT-STD-0039 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking.
Public Meeting Information
There is no public meeting scheduled at this time.
Submitting Public Comments
The comment period is closed.
Short Cycle
Confirmation of Withdrawal - Federal Register, 89FR105408 (December 27, 2024)
Notification of Proposed Confirmation of Withdrawal and Request for Comment - Federal Register, 89FR88661 (November 8, 2024)
Request for Information - Federal Register, 89FR17338 (March 11, 2024)
Final Rule - Federal Register ,87FR2673 (January 19, 2022)
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Federal Register, 86FR43970 (August 11, 2021)
Final Rule - Federal Register, 85FR68723 (October 30, 2020)
Grant of Petition for Rulemaking;
Extension of comment period
Grant of Petition for Rulemaking; Proposed RuleNotification of Petition for Rulemaking - Federal Register, 83FR17768 (April 24, 2018)
The energy conservation standard rulemaking dockets EERE-2024-BT-STD-0002, EERE-2021-BT-STD-0002 and EERE-2018-BT-STD-0005 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking.
Test Procedure
Final Rule - Federal Register, 88FR48351 (July 27, 2023)
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Federal Register, 88FR17419 (March 23, 2023)
Final Rule - Federal Register, 88FR3234 (January 18, 2023)
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Federal Register, 86FR72738 (December 22, 2021)
Request for Information - Federal Register, 84FR43071 (August 20, 2019)
The residential dishwashers test procedure rulemaking dockets EERE-2023-BT-TP-0007, EERE-2016-BT-TP-0012 contain all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking.
Public Meeting Information
There is no public meeting scheduled at this time.
Submitting Public Comments
The comment period is closed.
- The final rule published on January 19, 2022 (87 FR 2673) was effective on February 18, 2022.
Residential dishwashers manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291(16), must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 430.32(f)(3).
To determine that residential dishwashers that are currently manufactured or distributed into commerce are in compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedure methods specified at 10 CFR 430, Subpart B, Appendix C1.
Compliance
DOE has established regulations on certification, compliance, and enforcement in the CFR at 10 CFR Part 429. These regulations cover statistical sampling plans, certified ratings, certification reports, record retention, and enforcement. More information on these regulations is available here.
Waivers
For information on current test procedure waivers, see DOE’s Waivers webpage.
For information about obtaining test procedure waivers, see 10 CFR 430.27.
Exceptions
DOE's Office of Hearings and Appeals has not authorized exception relief for residential dishwashers.
For information about obtaining exception relief, see 10 CFR part 1003.
Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions
For information on further guidance and answers to Frequently Asked Questions on all covered products, see DOE’s Further Guidance database.
State Exemptions to Federal Pre-emption
DOE has not exempted any state from this energy conservation standard. States may petition DOE to exempt a state regulation from preemption by the federal energy conservation standard. States may also petition DOE to withdraw such exemptions. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart D.
Small Business Exemptions
Any manufacturer of a covered product with annual gross revenues that do not exceed $8,000,000 from all its operations and meets certain other conditions may apply for an exemption to the energy conservation standard. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart E.
ENERGY STAR®
DOE supports the testing and verification of ENERGY STAR® products in close collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency.
Find tips and guidance for making your home, workplace, or vehicle more energy efficient visit EnergySavers.gov.
For more information related to this product, please email:
ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov