Although today's home appliances are designed to be far more
energy efficient than those made in the decades past, there's
always room for improvement. Industry leaders are building
energy-saving appliances because consumers demand high-
performance products that do more with less energy. Fostering
this trend toward innovation in energy efficiency, the
Department of Energy (DOE) recently recognized the winners of a
university-based student design competition to build more
efficient appliances—products that can be manufactured at a
lower cost and outperform comparable best-in-their-class
products already on the market.  The Department's first Max Tech
and Beyond Appliance Design Competition aims to inspire the
nation's brightest young minds to pursue energy efficiency
improvements in home and commercial appliances and other
equipment, helping to develop innovative ultra-efficient
products. The competition also supports the Energy Department's
broader efforts to train and educate a new generation of
engineers an