Is your washer over 10 years old?
Washers that are approximately 10 years old are significantly less efficient than newer models. If you have a standard clothes washer that is approximately 10 years old, it's actually costing you on average $185 a year from inefficient use of power and water. Current models that do not meet energy star requirements are still much more efficient, with modern technology.
The average American family washes about 300 loads of laundry each year. ENERGY STAR can help families cut their related energy and water costs. ENERGY STAR certified clothes washers use about 25% less energy and 33% less water than regular washers. Over the lifetime of the product, models that have earned the ENERGY STAR can save $370 in energy costs. Save even more with an ENERGY STAR certified washer/dryer pair.
They have a greater tub capacity which means you can wash fewer loads to clean the same amount of laundry. They are available in front-load and top-load models from brands including Beko, Bosch, Electrolux, GE, Maytag, LG, Samsung, and Whirlpool. ENERGY STAR top-load models utilize new technologies that do not require the tub to fill with water. They clean using sophisticated wash systems to flip or spin clothes through a stream of water. Many have sensors to monitor incoming water levels and temperature. They also rinse clothes with repeated high-pressure spraying instead of soaking them in a full tub of water.
In recent years, clothes washer technology has seen dramatic improvements in efficiency and functionality. Selecting an ENERGY STAR certified washer gets you all these premium features and functionality:
On average, a new ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer uses 316 kWh of electricity and can save you about $35 a year on your utility bills just by choosing the right washer.
A full-sized ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer uses 14 gallons of water per load, compared to the 20 gallons used by a standard machine. If you're not using an ENERGY STAR certified washer, you're wasting 6 gallons of water every time you wash. That's a savings of more than 2,000 gallons of water, per year!
ENERGY STAR certified clothes washers come in either front-load or redesigned top-load designs. Both configurations include technical innovations that cut energy consumption by 25% and water consumption by 33% compared to conventional washers.
Most ENERGY STAR certified clothes washers do not have a central agitator.
Washers with agitators pull and rub clothes to get them clean. Clothing damage can be seen in the amount of lint in your dryer.
Advanced top loaders use modern wash systems like an impeller to flip or spin clothes through a reduced stream of water.
Front-loaders tumble clothes through a small amount of water instead of rubbing clothes against an agitator in a full tub.
Both have sensors to monitor incoming water temperature and rinse clothes with repeated high-pressure spraying instead of soaking them in a full tub of water.
Efficient motors used in ENERGY STAR certified washers spin clothes two to three times faster during the spin cycle to extract more water. Less moisture in the clothes means less energy used by the dryer.