Washington, DC - Today, Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) announced that he has introduced legislation to provide a tax credit to manufacturers for water and energy efficient residential dishwashers, clothes washers, and refrigerators. The Water and Energy Efficient Appliance Act provides graduated credits, with higher credits provided for more efficient appliances.

"Water is one of the most precious and needed resources we have," said Smith. "Water efficiency can extend water supplies, as well as reduce the amount of wastewater communities must treat."

The bill is designed to be the next step to the tax credits for energy efficient appliances included in the Senate-passed FSC/ETI bill. Most of those credits, if enacted, will expire at the end of 2007. Under this bill, for the first time, water efficiency would be included in the eligibility criteria for the tax credits. In addition, the energy efficiency standards are higher in Smith's bill.

"Appliances that use less energy and water are environmentally friendly as well as budget friendly," said Smith. "Families with high efficiency appliances will save on their monthly bills while using our resources wisely."

While plumbing fixtures such as toilets, showerheads, and faucets must meet U.S. water efficiency standards, residential appliances are not governed by any water efficiency standards. High efficiency clothes washers use 20 to 30 gallons per load, compared to the 40 to 50 gallons top-loading machines use. Energy savings estimates are up to 70 percent with high efficiency models. High efficiency dishwashers expend 39 percent less energy to heat the water and use 39 percent less water than standard models.