From super-efficient clothes washers and dryers in trendy colors to the most recent development of solar water heaters, GE’s appliances are known for energy efficiency. So it’s not a surprise that the company just received the Energy Star Sustained Excellence award for the fourth straight year and has been acknowledged as an Energy Star Partner of the Year for the sixth straight year.

Given the increased awareness of energy efficiency and environmental consciousness among consumers, GE’s newest products, solar water heaters, are sure to become widespread in the next few years. Although the solar water heating industry is currently very small, with 12,000 units sold in the U.S. in 2007 compared to 9 million other types of water heaters, they are the next logical step for homeowners.

Progressive states are now making them mandatory. California has a goal of installing 200,000 solar water heaters by 2017 and Hawaii just legislated that all new homes built from 2010 forward must have solar water heaters.

Water heating is the second most energy-intensive activity in the home, just behind heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and accounts for about 15 percent of a home’s energy consumption. However, solar water heaters consume less than half the energy used by a standard gas or electric tank water heater and are about three times more efficient than electric tank water heaters.

Solar water heaters utilize heat energy collected in rooftop panels to warm water in a separate tank via a heat exchanger.

To make up for cloudy days, GE pairs solar-thermal power with a number of backup energy sources.

GE has definitely proven to be a leader in energy-efficient appliances, raising the bar for the industry and encouraging homeowners to buy more wisely.

The first solar water heater to earn the Energy Star label was introduced earlier this year by Enerworks. Last year, the number of Energy Star qualified appliance base models was up 26.5 percent from 2007 and more than half of the GE appliance products are Energy Star qualified. Hopefully consumers will continue to purchase appliances that are better for the environment and easier on their monthly bills, and GE will soon make all of its appliances meet Energy Star qualifications.