The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the Energy Star Program will be expanded to include clothes dryers. Dryers that meet the new specifications will use approximately 20% less energy than the required minimum efficiency standards.
More than 80% of U.S. homes have a dryer and 6% of residential electricity consumption comes from the use of these appliances. New energy-efficient dryer models that meet the new requirements would have improved auto termination sources to stop the drying cycle when clothing is dry. New technology could also be introduced that would allow a heat pump to recapture hot air and return it back into the drum to dry more clothing.