Many times, the “efficient” products are pieces of crap that cause more problems than they solve. A good example is CFL lighting. I bought some to put in places where changing bulbs is difficult. They cost 6x what filament bulbs would cost (and aren’t sold anymore). They lasted 6 months to a year...
Dishwashers with modern detergents sold in retail stores aren’t even worth buying or using.
On the other hand, refrigerators are really MUCH more efficient than they once were, and this pays off. The new washers and driers are much better than their predecessors. They are also 4x more expensive.