FOR IMME DIATE RELEASE

303 CONGRESS ST., SUITE 600

For more information please contact: Larry Alexander, CEE (617) 330-9755

Putting a New Spin on Washing Machines:

Utilities Unite to Promote Efficient Clothes Washers

The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) today announced it will undertake

BOSTON , M A o 2 21 o a major promotion of an initiative to encourage a new generation of energy and water

efficient home clothes washers.

TEL: 6 1 7 330 9755 The CEE initiative already has had an effect on the marketplace for" home

washing machines. A number of major manufacturers will be offering innovative new

Fax.: 617 330 1136 clothes washers that will reach unprecedented heights of efficiency and performance.

dsmceeC^lgc.apc.org According to Howard Geller of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

E-MAIL: (ACE3) "These new highly efficient models will save purchasers hundreds of dollars

through lower energy and water bills over the life of the washing machine."

Washing machine manufacturers made the following comments about their plan:

to introduce new, highly efficient clothes washers:

Maytag: "Maytag and Admiral Products is developing a horizontal-axis

washer, planned for introduction in 1996, well in advance of the federal guidelines for

more energy efficient laundry products. The washer is expected to showcase Maytag's

laundry appliance expertise, as well as carry on its century-old tradition of

manufacturing quality appliances."

Frigidaire: "Frigidaire Company is proud to be the first major U.S. washer

manufacturer to bring a new, highly efficient. clothes washer to market. The new

Frigidaire Gallery series washer translates proven European horizontal axis design to the

extra large washing capacity demanded by U.S. consumers while using 40% less water

than conventional washers. Annually, the Frigidaire Gallery washer can save over

8,000 gallons of water and significant amounts of energy. This new washer, which

meets CEE's clothes washer initiative specifications, will be introduced at the National

_ Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in New Orleans on April 28th and will be available foi

sale in July."

Whirlpool: "Whirlpool applauds CEE's efforts to further promote its clothes

washer program. We plan to begin production of more energy efficient clothes washer

in 1996 in anticipation of new industry standards from the Department of Energy that ar

due in 1999. If CEE's program attracts enough support from utilities, then it could pla)

a key role in helping the clothes washer industry make the transition toward energy and

water efficient technologies that we believe the DOE will find are cost effective for the

consumer."

Miele: "Washing machines use more energy and water than they need to use.

This wastes money and resources. Multiply this waste by millions of daily uses and it

becomes obvious that we must improve. For generations, Europeans have paid much

more for energy than Americans and have had severely limited resources. Their clothes

washers must be efficient. Miele recognizes the importance of the organizational work

that the Consortium for Energy Efficiency is performing and is proud to be associated

with their program."

(over)

9

 EE-RM-93-701 COMMENT SUPP INFO 04

303 CONGRESS ST., SUITE 600 

BOSTON, MA 02210 

TEL: 617 330 9755 

FAX.: 6 1 7 330 1 1 36 

E-MAIL: dsmcee@igc.apc.org· 

FOR 1 M M E D .1 A T ER E LEA S E 

For more information please contact: Larry Alexander, CEE (617) 330-9755 

-Putting a New Spin on Washing Machines: 

Utilities Unite to Promote Efficient Clothes Washers 

The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) today announced it will undertake 

a major promotion of an initiative to encourage a new generation of energy and water 

efficient home clothes washers. , 

The CEE initiative already has had an effect on the marketplace for' home 

washing machines. A number of major manufacturers will be offering innovative new 

clothes washers that will reach unprecedented heights of efficiency and performance. 

According to Howard Geller of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy 

(ACE3) ''These new highly efficient models will save purchasers hundreds of dollars 

through lower energy and water b~ over the life of the wa.&hing machine." . 

Washing machine manufacturers made the following comments about their plan: 

to introduce ,new, highly efficient clothes washers: 

Maytag: "Maytag and Admiral Products is developing a horizontal-axis 

washer, planned for introduction in 1996, well in advance of the federal guidelines for 

more energy efficient laundry products. The washer is expected to showcase May tag's 

laundry appliance expertise, as well as carry on its century-old tradition of 

manufacturing quality appliances." 

. Frigidaire: "Frigidaire Company is proud to be the frrst major U.S. washer 

manufacturer to bring anew, highly efficient clothes washer to market. The new . 

Frigidaire Gallery series washer translates proven European horizontal axis design to th. 

extra large washing capacity demanded by U.S. consumers while using 40% less water 

than conventional washers. Amiually, the Frigidaire Gallery washer can save over 

8,000 gallons of water and significant amounts of energy. This new washer, which 

meets CEE's clothes washer initiative specifications, will be introduced at the National 

_ Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in New Orleans on April 28th and will be available fOJ 

sale in July." 

Whirlpool: ''Whirlpool applauds CEE's efforts to further promote its clothes 

washer program. We plan to begiJ;l production of more energy efficient dothes wac;hen 

in 1996 in anticipation of new industry standards from the Department of Energy that ar 

due in 1999. If CEE's program attracts enough support from utilities, then it could pIa) 

a key role in helping the clothes washer industry make the transition toward energy and 

water efficient technologies that we believe the DOE will fmd are cost effective for the 

consumer." 

, Miele: ''Washing machines use more energy and water than they need to use. 

'This wastes money and resources. ~ultiply this waste by millions of daily uses and it 

becomes obvio~ that we must improve. For generations, Europeans have paid much 

more for energy'than Americans and have had severely limited resources. Their clothes 

washers must be efficient Miele recognizes the importance of th~ organizational work 

that the Consortium for Energy Efficiency is performing and is proud to be associated 

with their program." 

(over) 

, 
Asko: "Asko, Inc. believes that the CEE is on the right track by working with the utility

companies to supply incentives for energy efficient appliances. Efficient clothes washers can

save both energy and water. People should realize that when energy and water are saved, it also

reduces the number of power plants and water treatment plants that need to be built. Asko's new

high spin speed washers -also extract more water out of a wash load before it goes into the drier.

This means the clothes are not as heavy, and less energy is required to tumble them dry. We all

must find ways to save our natural resources, and an efficient clothes washer is a good start.

With the increased availability of qualifying products, CEE expects that many electric, gas and

water utilities will participate in CEE's clothes washer initiative. Pacific Gas and Electric, one of

the largest utility companies in the U.S., is planning to offer significant incentives for efficient

washers. According to Senior Product Manager Lauren Casentini: "PG&E has been a strong

believer in the market transformation potential of efficient clothes washers for several years. We

are teaming up with three California water utilities this year to pilot a joint energy and water utility.

incentive on washers meeting CEE's specifications. Qualifying customers could receive a rebate

of more than $200! It is very encouraging to see early signs of a positive market response to this

product."

The CEE clothes washer initiative provides common definitions of efficiency that participating

electric, gas and water utilities can use when offering incentives to encourage their customers to

purchase efficient washers. In this way, CEE's initiative encourages washer manufacturers to

develop more efficient products. Utilities have run efficiency programs for clothes washers in

the past. However, with widely divergent specifications, they have not presented manufacturers

with a clear target for their research, development and production efforts. If large numbers of

utilities adopt CEE's initiative, manufacturers will have clear efficiency performance targets --

and the potential of large markets -- to plan for. Participation by utilities in the initiative, and

adoption of the initiative's definitions of efficiency, is voluntary and non-exclusive.

"CEE's initiative will help utilities make the most of their energy efficiency investments" notes

Executive Director Larry Alexander. "Over the long-term this initiative should help reduce the

price and increase the availability of highly efficient, environmentally friendly clothes washers".

CEE is an international, non-profit organization made up of electric and gas utilities, public

interest groups, government agencies, and research institutions. Its member utilities serve more .

than 25 million customers. CEE was created following.the launch of the Super Efficient

Refrigerator Program to develop and implement voluntary, non-exclusive "Golden Carrot"

market transformation initiatives for a variety of highly efficient technologies.

Contacts: Howard Geller ACES (202) 429-2248

Lauren Casentini PG&E (415) 973-8890

Linda Eggers Maytag ,(515) 791-8518

Tony Evans Frigidaire (614) 792-4102

Vince Anderson Whirlpool (812) 426-4692

Miele Bob Loeffler (800) 843-7231

Asko Michael Wasson (214) 644-8595

 EE-RM-93-701 COMMENT SUPP INFO 04

Asko: "Asko, Inc. believes that the CEE is on the right track by working with the utility 

companies to supply incentives for energy efficient appliances. Efficient clothes washers can 

save both energy and water. People should realize that when energy and water are saved, it also 

reduces the nUmber of power plants and water treatment plants that need to be built ASko's new 

high spin speed washers ~also _extract more water out of a wash load before it goes into the drier. 

This means the clothes are not as heavy, and less energy is required to tumble them dry. We all 

must fmd ways to save our natural resources, and an efficient clothes washer is a good start. 

With the increased availability of qualifying products, CEE expects that many electric, gas and 

water utilities will participate in CEE's clothes washer initiative. Pacific Gas and Electric, one of 

the largest utility companies in the U.S., is planning to offer significant incentives for efficient 

washers. According to Senior Product Manager Lauren Casentini: "PG&E has been a strong 

believer in the market transformation potential of efficient clothes washers for several years. We 

are teaming up with three California water utilities this year to pilot a joint energy and water utility: 

incentive on washers meeting CEE's specifications. Qualifying customers cou~d receive a rebate 

of more than $200! It is very encouraging to see early signs of a positive market response to this 

product." 

The CEE clothes washer initiative provides common defmitions of efficiency that participating 

electric, gas and water utilities can use when offering incentives to encourage their customers to -

purchase efficient washers. In this way, CEE's initiative encourages washer manufacturers to 

develop more efficient products. Utilities have run efficiency programs for clothes washers in 

the past However, with widely divergent specifications, they have not presented manufacturers 

with a clear target for their research, development and production efforts. If large numbers of 

utilities adopt CEE's initiative, manufacturers will have clear efficiency performance targets --

and the potential of large markets -- to plan for: Participation by utilities in the initiative, and 

adoption of the initiative's definitions of effioiency, is voluntary and non-exclusive. 

"CEE's initiative will help utilities make the most of their energy efficiency investments" notes 

Executive Director Larry Alexander. "Over the long-term this initiative should help reduce the 

price and increase the availability of highly efficient, environmentally friendly clothes washers". 

CEE is an international, non-profit organization made up of electric and gas utilities, public 

interest groups, governinent agencies, and research institutions. Its member utilities serve more. 

than 25 million customers. CEE was created following the launch of the Super Efficient 

Refrigeraior Program to develop and implement voluntary, non-exclusive -"Golden Carrot" 

market transformation initiatives for a variety of highly efficient technologies. 

### 

Contacts: Howard Geller ACE3 (202) 429-2248 

Lauren Casentini PG&E (415) 973-8890 

Linda Eggers Maytag .(515) 791-8518 

Tony Evans Frigidaiie (614) 792-4102 

Vince Anderson Whirlpool (812) 426-4692 

Miele Bob Loeffler (800) 843-7231 -

Asko Michael Wasson (214) 644-8595