Clothes Washer and Dryer Efficiency Standards Research

Real-world laundry metering to inform national appliance test procedures and efficiency standards

Ecotope conducted a field study of clothes washer and dryer energy use in 50 homes across the Pacific Northwest to support the U.S. Department of Energy’s appliance test procedure development. The study aimed to assess how modern laundry equipment and user behavior compare to the assumptions embedded in DOE test protocols. By combining detailed energy metering with occupant-completed laundry logs, Ecotope collected granular data on energy consumption, laundry habits, and moisture levels throughout the wash-and-dry cycle.

Ecotope designed and implemented a safe, plug-and-play metering system using NEMA enclosures to enable quick field installation with minimal disruption. Electric load data from washers and dryers was collected continuously alongside manual logs tracking cycle types and usage frequency. This dual dataset provided key insights into the real-world relationship between occupant behavior and appliance energy performance. Findings were used to inform DOE dryer test procedures, establish a national usage baseline, and guide initiatives like NEEA’s Super-Efficient Dryer Initiative aimed at advancing high-efficiency clothes dryers in the U.S. market.

Learn more about this project here:

• Dryer Field Study. Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, November 2014.