So I was looking over energy star appliances and noticed that its not really an inclusive list.

I don't see cloths dryers or certain refrigeration units like wine chillers. I know that the list of appliances and even the categories is quite extensive, so I am just curious if anyone knows why certain appliances (particularly the ones listed above) are not part of the energy star rating system.

Fair question but one with a (make that two) simple answers.

The clothes dryer question is one I hear quite often. If you do the leg work and look at hundreds of dryers what you will find out is that they are all very close in energy performance. I would advise against doing this as the EPA has already taken care of it. Now the Energy Star program doesn't take dryers into the program because there is little to distinguish between dryer a and dryers b-z.

The other refrigeration question has more to do with the commonality of the equipment. A wine chiller or other non-standard refrigeration device is not common place in today's home. This one is much easier to do you own legwork on as there are far fewer models on the market and you can get a feel for size, capacity and performance versus energy usage.

I hope that helps.

Homexpert. Thank you for that. I went to energy star website and they actually said pretty much the same thing you did. I do wonder though why there isn't some manufacturer out there making high efficiency dryers that would stand head and shoulders above the rest. Wouldn't that sell better? I figure my dryer uses so much energy with all that heat and a running motor.

Has anyone heard of such a dryer?

I don't know of any commercially available super high efficiency dryers. That is the traditional type. I am pretty sure the heat pump style dryers are a little more efficient, but try paying to have one of those shipped over from Europe. I have seen some tinkerers coming up with ideas to make the dryer more efficient.

Check this one out.

http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1378/

"Next to the sun" "The world's most green clothes dryer"

LOVE IT!

I really want one of these and hope that some appliance giants wake up to the innovative ideas out there.

The sun and wind are great at drying clothes....... in the summer and sometimes fall, but in the winter and rainy springs, the sun just doesn't cut it. There has to be an option for those with cold climates and the sun doesn't cut it.