AHAM's Blog

Search and Compare Appliance Ratings with AHAM

Visit AHAM’s new searchable directories of verified products to find the refrigerator, dehumidifier, room air conditioner and room air cleaner that meets your needs.   Search and compare appliances that are listed in AHAM’s Verification Programs to find models that have undergone performance and energy testing.    AHAM’s Verification Programs validate the energy ratings made by manufacturers through random testing conducted by an independent laboratory.   Product directories for clothes washers and dishwashers will be available soon. 

 

AHAM President Testifies Before Senate on Consensus Appliance Efficiency Agreement

AHAM President, Joseph M. McGuire, testified yesterday before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in support of legislation to enact the appliance efficiency standards portion of a landmark consensus agreement among appliance manufacturers, efficiency and consumer advocates and state energy officials.  The bill, Implementation of National Consensus Appliance Agreements Act of 2011 (S. 398) would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to improve energy efficiency of refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, clothes dryers, dishwashers and room air conditioners. 

AHAM's testimony highlighted several ways the agreement will save energy and increase our energy independence:

• improve product energy efficiency saving more than 9 Quads of energy over 30 years
• save consumers billions of dollars in reduced energy bills
• require clothes washers and dishwashers to use nearly 5 trillion less gallons of water over 30 years
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 550 million metric tons of CO2

To read AHAM’s full written testimony, click here.  To view the webcast of the event, click here.  

 

Easy Spring Cleaning Tips for your Appliances

In order to get the most from your household appliances, you need to show them a little love in return.  Regular maintenance will keep your appliances running in top shape and keep them running longer. The New York Times recently published an article with tips to take care of your dishwasher, refrigerator, ovens, vacuums and more. 

"Appliance maintenance does not take long — and best of all, it can extend the lifespan of an appliance," the article correctly states.  Always consult your use and care manual first, and follow these tips in The Fix when you are doing your routine house cleaning this spring.

You can also visit www.aham.org/consumer for more information on appliance care.

Cool Off with a Room Air Conditioner

There is only one week left until Memorial Day – the unofficial start of summer!  Other than BBQ’s and pool parties, you might also be thinking about how you are going to cool your house during the upcoming summer months.  Room air conditioners are a practical way to cool down when the temperature heats up, especially for people who want to save money by only cooling the rooms they use the most.

Consumers who purchase new room air conditioners can enjoy new features such as varying fan speeds, remote controls, timers and different types of filters.  The average room air conditioner manufactured in 2008 also use 23% less energy than units made in 1990—ENERGY STAR units can save you even more!. 

Before going to the store to purchase a new unit, consumers should visit www.cooloff.org to search through a list of models that are AHAM certified.  The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) tests and certifies room air conditioners in an independent lab to verify that the product performs according to the manufacturers’ claims.  Cooloff.org also offers a cooling calculator for consumers to determine the proper cooling capacity for their room.  When you have calculated the number of BTU’s , you will be able to search for a correctly sized model in the AHAM Directory of Certified Models.   

Beat the Heat!  Check out the site today and cool off with a new room air conditioner!