Energy Efficient washing machines

There are now a wide variety of washing machines which have both reduced energy requirements and reduced water consumption.  In fact, the two factors go hand-in-hand since the single biggest use of energy in a washing machine is heating the water for the clothes, Less water, less energy needed to heat it.  Older washing machines use as much as 40 gallons of water per load while the newer Energy Star compliant machines tend to use between 18 to 25 gallons of water. The savings in dollar terms can be significant.  According to the EPA Energy Star Web site, compared to a model manufactured before 1994, an Energy Star qualified clothes washer can save up to $110 per year on your utility bills.

 Another way in which the newer machines reduce energy costs is by spinning faster during the rinse cycle.  By doing this they get more of the water out of the clothes which mean it does not take as much energy to dry them when you go to put them in the dryer.

There are Energy Star compliant washers for all types, though as a general rule the front loading style washing machines tend to require the least water and the least energy than the top loading machines. The EPA Energy Star program uses a special measure for determining the efficiency of a washing machine.  This measure called the Modified Energy Factor (MEF) measures the energy used during the washing process, including machine energy, water heating energy, and dryer energy. The higher the MEF, the more efficient the clothes washer is. Another metric used by Energy Star is what they call The Water Factor.  This measures the gallons of water used per cycle per cubic foot (for example, a 3.0 cubic foot washer using 27 gallons per cycle has a water factor of 9.0). The lower the water factor the more water efficient it is.

In the table below are the latest MEF ratings and Water Factor ratings for the leading brands of residential washing machines:

Energy Star Ratings for Clothes Washers

(last updated February 25, 2008)