Energy efficient clothes washers use innovative designs and technology that require less water to get clothes thoroughly clean. These machines use sensors to match the hot water needs to the load preventing energy waste, since 90% of their energy demand is in heating the water.

There are two types of washing machines; front-loading, and top-loading.

Top loading washing machines
In the past 10 years the energy efficiency of top-loading washers has doubled. Use sensor technology, many are able to closely control the incoming water temperature. To reduce water consumption, new top loading washers spray clothes with repeated high pressure rinses to remove soap residues rather than soaking them in a full tub of rinse water.
Washers with a faster spin cycle remove more water from the clothes, saving drying time.

Front loading washing machines
Front-loading machines are horizontal-axis or tumble action machines which repeatedly lift and drop clothes, instead of moving clothes around a central axis. They use 30 to 60% less water and 50 to 70% less energy to operate. Typically, they have faster spin cycles (reducing drying time), use less detergent and perform better than horizontal axis machines.

A typical household does nearly 400 loads of laundry per year, using about 40 gallons of water per full load with a conventional washer. In contrast, a full-sized new model washer uses 18-25 gallons per load which could save 7,000 gallons of water or more every year.

Washers come in a range of capacities from about 1.6 cubic feet up to 3.1 cubic feet. A typical large-capacity washer found in most households is about 2.7 cubic feet. Washers are most efficient when fully loaded so choose a size that most closely matches your needs. Some models can be stacked or mounted under a counter top. This is a great space saver.

Clothes dryers
Dryers aren't required to comply with the governmental energy standards (!) so it's more difficult to compare the energy efficiency of different models. Gas dryers, while slightly less efficient, are less expensive to operate and are more environmentally sound than electric models since burning gas is less polluting than burning fossil fuels to generate electricity. Clothes drying technology is essentially the same with all models, but newer machines have timers and sensors which can reduce energy use by not overdrying. The ideal scenario for clothes drying is to allow clothes to air dry partially, then fluff in the dryer.

For more information we recommend downloading the following PDF document Washers, Dryers + Misc. Appliances: Energy Brief #7 put out by the Rocky Mountain Institute (http://www.rmi.org/) If you're so inspired, send them a small donation. They do us all a great service.