Consumer Clothes Dryers
As defined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), “Electric Clothes Dryers” means a cabinet-like appliance designed to dry fabrics in a tumble-type drum with forced air circulation. The heat source is electricity and the drum and blower(s) are driven by an electric motor(s). 10 CFR 430.2 “Gas Clothes Dryers” means a cabinet-like appliance designed to dry fabrics in a tumble-type drum with forced air circulation. The heat source is gas and the drum and blower(s) are driven be an electric motor(s). 10 CFR 430.2 Manufacturers have been required to comply with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) energy conservation standards for Residential Clothes Dryers since1988.
Current Standard | Current Test Procedure |
Ongoing Rulemaking for Standards | Ongoing Rulemaking for Test Procedure |
Helpful Links
Recent and Ongoing Activities
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published a Federal Register notice of Direct Final Rule (DFR) pertaining to energy conservation standards for consumer clothes dryers. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, (EPCA), prescribes standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including consumer clothes dryers. In this DFR, DOE is adopting amended standards for consumer clothes dryers. DOE has determined that the amended standards for these products would result in significant conservation of energy and are technologically feasible and economically justified.
- The effective date of this rule is July 10, 2024.
- If adverse comments are received by July 1, 2024 and DOE determines that such comments may provide a reasonable basis for withdrawal of the direct final rule under 42 U.S.C. 6295(o), a timely withdrawal of this rule will be published in the Federal Register. If no such adverse comments are received, compliance with the new and amended standards established for consumer clothes dryers in this direct final rule is required on and after March 1, 2028.
- Comments regarding the likely competitive impact of the standards contained in this direct final rule should be sent to the Department of Justice on or before April 11, 2024.
DOE has also published a Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) that proposes amended standards for consumer clothes dryers identical to those set forth in the direct final rule. If DOE receives adverse comment and determines that such comment may provide a reasonable basis for withdrawal of the direct final rule, DOE will publish a notice of withdrawal rule and will proceed with this proposed rule.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published a Federal Register notice pertaining to energy conservation standards for dishwashers, consumer clothes washers and consumer clothes dryers. In light of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently granting a petition for review of a final rule published by the DOE on January 19, 2022, and remanding the matter to DOE for further proceedings, DOE is initiating an information and data gathering effort on whether “short cycle” product classes for dishwashers, residential clothes washers, and consumer clothes dryers are warranted under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. In this request for information (RFI), DOE solicits data and information from the public to help DOE in its rulemaking to evaluate whether: products with a “short cycle” as the normal cycle are available in the market; and products with a “short cycle” as the normal cycle should be subject to different standards than products without a “short cycle” as the normal cycle.
Standards
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
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Direct Final Rule |
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Request for Information |
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Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
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Notification of a Webinar and Availability of Preliminary TSD |
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Request for Information |
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The clothes dryer energy conservation standard rulemaking docket EERE-2014-BT-STD-0058 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking.
Public Meeting Information:
There are no meetings scheduled at this time.
Submitting Public Comments
Test Procedure
Final Rule |
- Federal Register, 86FR56608 (October 8, 2021)
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Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; Extension of Comment Period
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; Meeting Revision and Extension of Comment Period
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
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- Federal Register, 84FR35484 (October 3, 2019)
- Federal Register, 84FR43529 (August 21, 2019)
- Federal Register, 84FR35484 (July 23, 2019)
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Notice of Public Meeting |
- Federal Register 79FR6336 (December 15, 2014)
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The clothes dryer energy test procedure docket EERE-2014-BT-TP-0034 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking.
Public Meeting Information
There are no meetings scheduled at this time.
Submitting Public Comments
Current Standard
Residential Clothes Dryers 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(h).
To determine that Residential Clothes Dryers 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 D1.
Alternatively, manufacturers may use the test procedure methods specified at 10 CFR 430, Subpart B, Appendix D2 to demonstrate compliance.
Helpful Links
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 wavers, 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 Clothes Dryers.
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
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