Energy Star certification expanded to include clothes dryers

For the first time in six years, Energy Star certification, a standard seal of approval for energy efficiency, has been expanded to include another major household appliance.

Clothes dryers, perhaps the last of the major household appliances to be included in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's program, became available in 45 Energy Star models starting Presidents' Day weekend, according to the EPA.

"Dryers are one of the most common household appliances and the biggest energy users," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.

While washing machines have become 70 percent more energy-efficient since 1990, dryers -- used by an estimated 80 percent of American households -- have continued to use a high amount of energy, the agency said.

The Energy Star program is designed to help consumers save money and protect the environment by curbing energy consumption.

"Refrigerators were the dominant energy consumer in 1981. Now dryers are the last frontier in the home for radical energy conservation," said Charles Hall, senior manager of product development for Whirlpool.

Energy Star-certified dryers include gas, electric and compact models. Manufacturers offering them include LG, Whirlpool, Kenmore, Maytag and Safemate.

All the energy-efficient models include moisture sensors to ensure the dryer does not continue running after the clothes are dry, which reduces energy consumption by around 20 percent, the EPA said.

In addition, two of the Energy Star-approved models lso include innovative "heat pump" technology, which reduces energy consumption by around 40 percent more than that, the EPA and manufacturers said.

Heat-pump dryers combine conventional vented drying with heat-pump technology, which recycles heat.