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• Regulation Impact Statement: Minimum Water Efficiency Standards for Clothes Washers and Water Efficiency Labelling for Combined Washer-Dryers (PDF - 551 KB)|  (RTF - 4,009 KB)

About the report

At its meeting on 5 July 2010, the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) noted the Decision Regulation Impact Statement (RIS): Minimum Water Efficiency Standards for Clothes Washers and Water Efficiency Labelling for Combined Washer-Dryers, and agreed to adopt the following recommendations relating to proposed amendments to the WELS scheme:

1. A minimum water-efficiency standard for the washing function of clothes washers and combined washer-dryers (CWDs) should be adopted, with the same minimum water efficiency standard (WES) level to apply to all product types, including top loading and front loading;
2. The initial minimum WES level for clothes washers of 5.0 kg capacity or greater should be a Star Rating Index of 3.0 (equivalent to Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) rating of 3 stars), as calculated in accordance with AS/NZS 6400, Water Efficient Products – Rating and Labelling;
3. In order to maintain consumer choice in smaller capacity clothes washers, the initial minimum WES level for clothes washers (CWs) of less than 5.0 kg capacity should be a Star Rating Index of 2.5 (equivalent to WELS rating of 2.5 stars), as calculated in accordance with AS/NZS 6400, Water Efficient Products – Rating and Labelling;
4. The above measures should apply to all CW models requiring registration under the scheme from 1 October 2011;
5. Once the market impacts of the initial minimum WES levels become clear, consideration should be given to further raising the WES levels to 4.0 (and 3.0 for units of less than 5.0 kg), following a further notice period;
6. There should be no minimum water-efficiency standard for dishwashers (DWs) for the time being;
7. A method of rating and labelling the water consumption of the drying mode of CWDs should be required by the WELS scheme, most likely through inclusion in AS/NZS 6400;
8. The CWD drying mode label should have the following elements:
   • a ‘Water Warning’ or similar heading (as provided for in AS/NZS 6400);
   • the total litres of water consumed during drying, as recorded in existing tests; and
   • the maximum drying load capacity (in kg), as recorded in existing tests;
9. The display of the CWD drying label at the point of sale should be mandatory for all CWDs requiring registration under the scheme from 1 October 2011;
10. Work should commence on a new ‘combined function’ test for CWDs, which would measure the energy and water used to wash and dry a complete load of the maximum capacity for which the unit can perform those functions without removal or disturbance of the load; and
11. When developed, the test should become the basis for a ‘combined function’ rating which could initially be included on the water rating and energy rating websites, and could eventually replace the drying-mode WELS label.

• The communiqué of the EPHC meeting is available on the EPHC website 

Background

The Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 mandates water efficiency labelling for a range of products, and minimum water efficiency standards (WES) for a subset of those products.

In November 2006, the EPHC agreed to consider water efficiency labelling and minimum WES for CWDs that use water in dryer mode, evaporative air conditioners, instantaneous gas hot water systems, hot water circulators and domestic irrigation flow controllers.  Governments also agreed to consider the introduction of minimum WES for CWs, taps, DWs, CWDs, showers, urinals, and to consider raising the existing minimum WES for toilets.

As part of the program of work that resulted from this, a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) Minimum Water Efficiency Standards for Clothes Washers and Dishwashers and Water Efficiency Labelling for Combined Washer-Dryers was prepared in September 2008, with the following terms of reference:

• Analyse the costs and benefits of introducing WES for clothes washers. At present these are covered by WELS labelling only.
• Analyse the costs and benefits of introducing WES for dishwashers. At present these are covered by WELS labelling only.
• Analyse the costs and benefits of extending the WELS scheme to the water used in the drying function of combined washer/dryers. At present, these are only covered with regard to the WELS labelling of their washing function.

This consultation RIS was open for formal stakeholder submissions until 23 January 2009.

Following this period of consultation and in consideration of the submissions received, a Decision RIS was finalised in April 2010, and provided to the EPHC for consideration.

About the EPHC

The Environment Protection and Heritage Council comprises ministers from all Australian states and territories, as well as the Australian, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea governments. It aims to ensure that governments work together with communities to achieve and enhance a healthy natural and cultural environment in harmony with social and economic goals. More information is available at www.ephc.gov.au .