Very Efficient Clothes Washers
Since its inception in 1992, the ENERGY STAR program, a joint program run by the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy, has sought to protect the environment by promoting energy efficiency. Starting with personal computers and monitors, ENERGY STAR established energy usage guidelines that set the bar for energy conservation. Over the years the ENERGY STAR program has brought just about anything that uses energy or water under its umbrella, saving an estimated $14 billion in energy costs in 1996. LEED for Homes and the NAHB’s Model Green Building Guidelines both encourage green home builders to use ENERGY STAR rated appliances. For those seeking additional credits - and energy savings - both green building programs encourage the use of very efficient clothes washers. But what exactly is a very efficient clothes washer?
A very efficient clothes washer saves both water and energy. Water Factor (WF) measures the number of gallons per cycle per cubic foot that the washer uses. In order to qualify as a very efficient clothes washer, it must have a WF of less than 5.5. To put that number into perspective, washers that have a WF of 8, the maximum for an ENERGY STAR labeled clothes washer, use up to 10,000 gallons of water a year. One of Asko’s UltraCare clothes washers boasts of a WF of 3.4, using under 3,000 gallons of water a year. Granted, at 1.9 cubic feet the Asko model is quite small, but if water efficiency is the goal, Asko sets the standard.
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The Modified Energy Factor (MEF) measures not only the amount of energy used by the washer but also the amount of energy saved by the dryer due to the washer’s water efficiency. A MEF of 1.8 is the minimum to qualify as a very efficient clothes washer. Some manufacturers, like Bosch, Kenmore, LG, Maytag, Samsung, and Whirlpool (pictured above,) offer clothes washers with a MEF of at least 2.5, saving over twice the energy of the federal standard 1.26 MEF.
Remember, to qualify for the very efficient clothes washer credits, the washer must have a WF of less than 5.5 and a MEF of greater than 1.8. While they do not yet have a list of very efficient clothes washers, the ENERGY STAR site does have a list of qualifying ENERGY STAR clothes washers. Look under the WF and MEF columns for qualifying, very efficient clothes washers.
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Excellent link to ratings on ES Washers. Thanks.
[...] Very Efficient Clothes Washers [...]
I use HE washers and I love them but after hearing SO MANY whiny people complaining about them, I decided to write my own page about them. People don’t realize that the old-fashioned top loaders will soon be a thing of the past since they just aren’t as efficient. The front loaders just save so much - energy, water, detergent. They are a godsend.
I use HE washers and I love them but after hearing SO MANY whiny people complaining about them, I decided to write my own page about them. People don’t realize that the old-fashioned top loaders will soon be a thing of the past since they just aren’t as efficient. The front loaders just save so much - energy, water, detergent. They are a godsend.
Sorry, I messed up the first one. Guess I should start folding clothes and get off the laptop!
[...] the appliance to a local metal yard where it finds new life as crushed metal scrap. Sure, the newer Energy Star models use less energy but like cars it’s probably a better bet to use the old one to its [...]
These energy efficient washers are a boon for the natural soap nuts washing agent. Front loading washers are excellent for this low sudsing product. Soap nuts are small berry like fruits that grow in warm, tropical and sultry climates. They are native to India, Nepal and some other South Asian countries and consist of a small yellowish Brown fruit covered by a hard outer covering. It is the former that is mostly used in the various products that are now available in the market. The main ingredient in soap nuts is saponins which make them an excellent cleaning utility that can be used to clean almost everything ranging from clothes to dishes and regular household cleaning. There are a number of ways in which soap nuts can be used to make our living greener, natural and more environmental friendly. A Natural ECO Friendly Product from beginning to end for Front loaders.
I’ve been going crazy trying to find the Federal, or California Regulation on wahing machine water temperature. We just bought a new top loader maytag (by whirlpool) and the water measures 104 degrees, when the tub is full. There is no way that the white clothes come out sanitary at the end of the wash cycle! I cannot find a washer without the “autotemp” fearure.
Since I have a very high efficiency Diesel Boiler, I’m not worried about saving money. We heat our large house, and all the hot water we can use, on less than 250 gallons per year.
Please help me.
I had an Asko and nothing but trouble and expencive repairs. Won’t be doing that again any time soon.