Energy Efficiency Considerations for Clothes Washers

Some of the general variables that consumers should consider when selecting the optimum model include volume, modified energy factor, and the water factor.

Energy Efficient Clothes Washers Selection Characteristics

Prior to actually making a clothes washer purchase, consumers should consider the following specific attributes in their selection process:

• Resource Efficiency: Clothes washers that require less water, electricity, and drying energy will have the highest Modified Energy Factor (MEF). The MEF accounts for dryer energy and water heating energy for the washer. The Water Factor (WF) measures the  number of gallons required for each cubic foot of laundry and a lower WF machine is most efficient.
  

  Energy Efficient Clothes Washers

• Front vs. Top-Loading Washers: Front-loading washers are generally more resource (both energy and water) efficient than the traditional top-loading models. The primary reason is that front-loading washers don’t have to fill the tub completely with water to complete the washing cycle and thus generally consume less water.
• Water Level Controls: All front-loading washers and most higher-efficiency top-loading washers deploy electronic controls to adjust the water level based on size of load. Within a given temperature range, energy consumption is directly proportional to hot water use. Consequently, top-loading washers without this capability potentially waste up to 50 percent of the energy used to operate a washing cycle.
• Wash and Rinse Cycle Options: Wash and rinse temperatures have a significant impact on the total energy required to complete a wash cycle. For example, hot water wash with a warm rinse consumes 5 to 10 times the energy of a cold water wash and rinse. Selecting a clothes washer that offers a significant number of temperature choices among the wash and rinse cycles is highly recommended.
• Faster Spin Speed: The faster the spin speed of the washer, the better the water extraction at the conclusion of the rinse cycle.Water extraction by spinning (i.e. mechanical extraction) is significantly more energy efficient that thermal extraction (i.e. use of a dryer).

The most energy efficient models of clothes washers carry the ENERGY STAR label.

For information on clothes dryers click here.